COLONEL   HENRY   A.    MORROW. 
(BREVET  BRIGADIER  AND  BREVET  MAJOR  GENERAL.) 


HISTORY 


TWENTY-FOURTH 


OF   THE 


IRON   BRIGADE. 


KNOW,} 


DETROIT  AND  WAYNE  COUNTY  REGIMENT. 


ILLUSTRATED. 


BY  O.  B.  CURTIS,  A.  M. 


OH  THE  REGIMENT. 


DETROIT,  WICM. 
WlNN  & 

1891. 


5 


TO     OUR    HERGl'c'-t>EAD    WHO    PERISHED 

FOR  THEIR  COUNTRY,  IN  HOSPITAL,  PRISON 
PEN  AND  ON  THE  BATTLEFIELD  THIS  VOL- 
UME  is  RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED. 

THE    AUTHOR. 


COPYRIGHT,    l8gl, 
BY  O.  B.  CURTIS. 


1ST  DIVISION-lST  ARMY  CORPS. 


3RD  DIVISION— STH  ARMY  CORPS. 


z 

INTRODUCTION. 

By  request  of  his  comrades  the  author  has  written  this  volume. 
For  centuries,  the  story  of  the  Anabasis  and  Retreat  of  the  Ten 
Thousand  Greeks,  and  the  incursions  of  Hannibal  into  Italy  have 
been  perused  with  interest  by  classical  readers  ;  while  the  great 
campaigns  of  Bonaparte  against  the  Allied  Powers  have  been  the 
wonder  of  modern  times.  But  our  own  nation  has  a  martial  record 
as  eventful  as  any  in  previous  time. 

A  full  history  of  its  Great  War  can  never  be  written.  Each 
soldier's  experience  is  a  volume  in  itself,  portions  of  which  are  related 
in  country  stores  in  winter,  at  noonings  in  harvest  and  around  veteran 
camp-fires.  Such  recitals  must  soon  cease.  To  preserve  the  deeds  of 
the  Regiment  which  sustained  the  heaviest  loss  in  the  greatest  battle 
of  that  war,  and  incidently  those  of  the  Iron  Brigade  which  suffered 
the  greatest  per  cent  of  loss  during  the  war,  of  all  the  Brigades  of  the 
Union  Armies,  this  history  is  written. 

It  has  required  many  months  of  research  through  war  time 
letters,  diaries  and  official  records,  by  one  who  was  an  actor  in  a 
portion  of  that  strife.  In  this  laborious  task,  the  author  acknowledges 
valuable  assistance  from  the  late  Sergeant  S.  D.  GREEN  (N.  C.  S.), 
from  Chaplain  WILLIAM  C.  WAY,  and  Major  E.  B.  WIGHT  ;  also  from 
Colonel  A.  M.  EDWARDS,  Captain  WILLIAM  R.  DODSLEY  and 
Sergeant  ROBERT  GIBBONS  of  the  Publication  Committee.  Should 
this  volume  interest  its  readers,  the  compiler  will  be  repaid  for  his 

gratuitous  labors. 

O.  B.  CURTIS. 

Detroit,  Michigan,  | 
1891.  \ 


(3) 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER. 

PAGE. 

I. 

THE  SLAVEHOLDERS'  REBELLION,         .... 

9 

II. 

RAISING  THE  REGIMENT,          ...... 

24 

III. 

FIRST  MONTHS  OF  ARMY  LIFE,            .... 

52 

IV. 

MARCH  TO  THE  RAPPAHANNOCK,     

...            71 

V. 

BATTLE  OF  FREDERICKSBURG,       ..... 

.       86 

VI. 

WlNTERQUARTERS   AT    BELLE   PLAIN  

105 

VII. 

CHANCELLORSVILLE  CAMPAIGN,    ..... 

121 

VIII. 

FROM  CHANCELLORSVILLE  TO  GETTYSBURG,     . 

137 

IX. 

BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG,     

•       155 

X. 

AFTER  GETTYSBURG  —  1863  

193 

XI. 

WlNTERQUARTERS   NEAR   CULPEPPER, 

214 

XII. 

GRANT'S  CAMPAIGN  —  1864,       ...... 

22Q 

XIII. 

SIEGE  OF  PETERSBURG  —  1864,      ..... 

.       266 

XIV. 

CLOSING  MONTHS  OF  THE  WAR,      

287 

XV. 

THE  ARMIES  DISBANDED,     ...... 

.       307 

XVI. 

ORIGINAL  MEMBERS  OF  THE  REGIMENT, 

321 

XVII. 

RECRUITS      .        .         .        .         . 

^4.6 

XVIII. 

ROSTER  OF  OFFICERS,       ....... 

-JC7 

XIX. 

THE  DEAD  OF  THE  TWENTY  FOURTH  MICHIGAN, 

•      371 

XX. 

RECORDS  OF  THE  SURVIVORS,           .        .        .        .         . 

382 

XXI. 

MICHIGAN  DAY  AT  GETTYSBURG,         .... 

.      403 

XXII. 

CONFEDERATE  PRISONS,            ...... 

428 

XXIII. 

IRON  BRIGADE  AND  BATTERY  B, 

•      452 

XXIV. 

OUR  LAST  MARCH,           

474 

(4) 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE. 

Col.  Henry  A.  Morrow,     Frontispiece 
First  Corps  Badge,  Frontispiece 

Fifth  Corps  Badge,  Frontispiece 

Slaves  Planting  Cotton,      ...  9 

The  Cotton  Gin, 10 

Hon.  Charles  Sumner,  ....  14 

John  Brown, 15 

Fort  Sumter,  1861, 19 

The  Peninsula,  Va 22 

Campus  Martius,  Detroit,       .     .  25 

Capt.  E.  B.  Ward, 27 

Hon.  Duncan  Stewart,  ....  27 

Hon.  Lewis  Cass, 32 

Wayne  County  Map,      ....  36 

Departure  from  Home,    ...  47 

Route  to  the  Front 5° 

Scene  in  Pennsylvania,    ...  51 

Route  to  Camp  Shearer,     ...  53 

Pope's  Campaign — Map,      .     .  56 

On  Cars  through  Maryland,  .     .  59 

Route  to  Join  the  Army,       .     .  61 

At  Middletown,  Md.,     ....  63 

Route  to  Berlin,  1862,       ...  64 

Burnside  Bridge, 67 

American  Eagle, 70 

Berlin  Crossing, 72 


NUMBER. 
I. 
2. 

3- 
4- 
5- 
6. 

7- 
8. 

9- 
10. 
n. 

12. 

13- 
14. 

15- 

16. 

17- 

18. 
19. 

20. 
21. 

22. 

23- 
24. 

25- 
26. 

27- 
28. 
29. 
30. 

SI- 

32. 
33- 

34- 
35- 
36. 
37- 
38. 

39- 
40. 

41. 

42. 
43- 
44- 
45- 
46. 


Raiding  Stravvstacks, 


73 


Warrenton,  Va., 76 

General  McClellan 78 

Route  to  Fredericksburg,   ...  82 

Persimmon  Tree, 85 

General  Burnside, 87 

Franklin's  Crossing 89 

Barnard  Mansion, 90 

Field  of  Fredericksburg,  ...  92 

Fredericksburg,  Va.,     ....  94 

Battle  of  Fredericksburg,     .     .  98 

General  Doubleday, 101 

Soldier's  House  —  Tent,.     .      .  104 

Camp  Isabella, 106 

"  Mud  March," in 

Wearied  Soldier  Boy,     ....  113 

General  Hooker, 117 

24th  Michigan  in  Bivouac,     .     .  120 

Port  Royal  Expedition,    .     .     .  122 

Port  Royal  Crossing 123 


NUMBER 

47.  Fitzhugh  Crossing 

48.  Drummer  Boy, 

49.  Field  of  Chancellorsville,   .     . 

50.  United  States  Flag,      .     .     .     . 

51.  "Chuch  or-Luck,"     .... 

52.  Captured  Oxen, 

53.  Westmoreland  Expedition, 

54.  Executing  Deserter,     .     .     .     . 

55.  Route  to  the  Potomac,  . 

56.  March  to  Gettysburg, 

57.  General  Meade, 

58.  Bealeton  Station,  Va.,     . 

59.  General  Reynolds 

60.  Gettysburg,  Frst  Day, 

61.  Iron  Brigade  at  Gettysburg,  . 

62.  Defending  the  Colors, 

63.  Field  of  Gettysburg,       .     .     . 

64.  Seminary,  Gettysburg,     .     . 

65.  John  Burns, 

66.  Place  of  Reynold's  death,    . 

67.  Pursuit  of  Lee, 

68.  Bivouac  and  Camp  Fire, 

69.  Route  to  Rappahannock,    . 

70.  Brandy  Station,  Va.,   .     .     .     . 

71.  Campaign  of  Maneuvers.  .     . 

72.  Thoroughfare  Gap,  Va.,  .     . 

73.  Mine  Run  Campaign,    .     .     . 

74.  Field  of  Mine  Run 

75.  General  Rufus  King,     . 

76.  Penal  Drill 

77.  Rail  Fence  Guard,     .... 
.78.  Gen.  John  Newton,      .     .     .     . 

79.  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant,       .... 

80.  Gov.  Austin  Blair, 

81.  Old  Flag  of  the  24th  Michigan, 

82.  Route  to  Rapidan,  '     .     .     .     . 

83.  Germanna  Crossing, 

84.  Iron  Brigade  at  Wilderness,     . 

85.  Wilderness  Battlefield,  .     .     . 

86.  Fighting  in  Wilderness,  .     . 

87.  General  Wadsworth, 

88.  Todd's  Tavern, 

89.  Iron  Brigade  at  Laurel  Hill,  . 

90.  At  the  Salient 

91.  Tree  cut  down  by  bullets,  .     . 

92.  Field  of  Spottsylvania,  .     .     . 


PAGE. 

.  126 
129 
132 
136 

.  138 
140 

.      142 

145 
.  148 

151 
.  153 

154 
.  156 

158 
.  161 

164 
.  174 

181 
.  183 

192 
.  Tgs 

197 


(5) 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


NUMBER. 

93.  Route  to  North  Anna, 

94.  Route  to  Cold  Harbor,   . 

95.  Route  to  Petersburg,  , 

96.  Iron  Brigade  at  Petersburg, 

97.  Wounded  Burning  up, 

98.  Siege  of  Petersburg,  .     .     . 

99.  Position  on  Weldon  Road,    , 
TOO.   Burying  the  Dead, 

101.  General  Crawford,  .     .      .     . 

102.  Map  of  Hatcher's  Run,  . 

103.  Destroying  Railroad,   . 

104.  General  Warren,    .... 

105.  Abraham  Lincoln 

106.  Lincoln's  Home 

107.  Lieut.-Col.  Mark  Flanigan,  . 

108.  Lieut.-Col.  W.  W.  Wight,  . 

109.  Lieut.-Col.  A.  M.  Edwards, 
no.   Major  Hutchinson,    . 

in.  Amputating  Table,       .     .     . 

112.  Jericho  Mills, 

113.  Washington's  Tomb,    . 

114.  Gen.  Byron  R.  Pierce.    . 

115.  Col.  Samuel  E.  Pittman, 

116.  Gen.  Luther  S.  Trowbridge, 

117.  Rev.  James  H.  Potts,  . 

118.  24th  Michigan  Monument, 

119.  Capt.  Wm.  R.  Dodsley,    .     . 

120.  Lieut.  E.  B.  Welton,       .     . 

121.  Lieut.  C.  H.  Chope,     .     . 

122.  O.  B.  Curtis 

123.  Sergt.  Robert  E.  Bolger,  . 


PAGE. 

254 
259 
261 
265 
268 
272 

273 
277 
278 
283 
299 
304 
306 


NUMI 

1ER. 

124 

Sergt.  S.  D.  Green,    .... 

*  *.^t  * 
125. 

Sergt.  Robert  Gibbons, 

126. 

Capt.  W.  G.  Vinton  

127. 

Major  Edwin  B.  Wight,    . 

128. 

Chaplain  Wm  C.  Way,  .     .      . 

129. 

Lieut.  C.  C.  Yemans,   .     .     .     . 

130. 

Camp  Scene  

131. 

Union   Prison,  Elmira,  N.   Y., 

132. 

Rebel  Prison,  Millen,  Ga.,    .     . 

133- 

Salisbury  Prison,  N.  C.,     . 

134- 

Libby  Prison,  Richmond, 

135- 

Prison  Dead  Wagon,      .     . 

136. 

Scene  in  Andersonville,    . 

137- 

Andersonville  Prison, 

138. 

Starved  Union  Prisoner,  . 

139- 

"             "             "             .     . 

140. 

"             "             "           .     .     . 

141. 

War  Scene  

T-   * 
142. 

Turner's  Pass,  South  Mountain, 

'43- 

Gen.  Lucius  Fairchild, 

144. 

Gen.  John  Gibbon,     .... 

145. 

Gen.  Sol.   Meredith,     . 

146. 

Gen.  Lysander  Cutler,    .     . 

147. 

Gen.  E.  S.  Bragg  

148. 

Gen.  W.  W.  Robinson,  .     .     . 

149- 

Gen.  Henry  A.  Morrow,  . 

150. 

Gen.  J.  A.  Kellog,      .... 

151. 

Gen.  Rufus  Dawes  

152. 

Battery  B.  in  action, 

153- 

Major  James  Stewart, 

154- 

Doc  C.  B.  Aubrey  

PRICE. 
414 
414 

418 
418 
418 
418 

427 
429 


ERRATA. 

Page  71,  line   11:    "Lieutenant  Flanigan "  should  read  "Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Flanigan." 

Page  91,  line  25:  "formed"  should  read  "moved." 
Page  163,  line  14:  all  after  "field"  should  not  appear. 
Page  163:    line  15  should  not  appear. 

Page  163,  line    16:    after   "flag"    should    appear   "from    a   wounded 
soldier." 

Page  339 :  "Abraham  Hoffman"  should  be  "Abram  Hoffman." 

Page  340:  after  Edward  Wilson,  "Germany,  26,"  should  be  "Detroit, 
20." 


(7) 


CHAPTER  I. 


THE  SLAVEHOLDERS'  REBELLION. 


SLAVERY    ITS   CAUSE. 

JIB!  HE  Civil  War  of  1861  to  1865,  in  America,  was  a  rebellion  of 

+         ^\     slaveholders  against  the  government  of  the  United  States. 

It  formed  an  extraordinary  epoch  in  the  world's  history.     It 

cost  over  half  a  million  of    lives  and  a  mountain  of  debt. 

It  brought  devastation  to  many  parts  of  the  land.     It  caused  untold 

sorrow    throughout    the    nation.     The    cause    of    this    terrible    and 

unjustifiable  war  was  an  unsuccessful  effort  to  extend  and  perpetuate 

slavery  of  the  African  race  in  the  United  States.      Every  reason  for 

the  rebellion  can  be  traced  to  this  root. 

ITS   INTRODUCTION,    GROWTH   AND    INFLUENCE'  IN 
THE   COLONIES. 

In  August,  1619,  a  Dutch  war  vessel  arrived  at  Jamestown, 
Virginia,  with  twenty  negroes  who  were  sold  to  the  planters  for 
slaves.  In  1790,  the 
slaves  in  the  colo 
nies  had  increased 
to  697,897,  of  which 
40,373  were  in  six 
of  the  Northern, 
and  the  rest  in  the 
six  Southern  States, 
Massachusetts  hav 
ing  none. 

During  the  strug 
gle  for  American 
Independence,  slav 
ery  was  an  anoma 
lous  feature  of  the 
free  republic.  The 
colonists  were  seeking  sympathy  from  the  civilized  world  in  their 
efforts  for  liberty,  and  yet,  were  holding  in  slavery  their  own  fellow 

2  (9) 


SLAVES  PLANTING  COTTON  SEED. 


IO 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


human  beings!  It  was  a  marvelous  sight  to  General  Lafayette,  who 
had  brought  upon  himself  the  reprehension  of  his  own  government 
and  braved  the  perils  of  the  sea  and  his  capture  in  behalf  of 
the  struggling  people  of  the  New  World,  to  behold  the  "  black 
domestiques  "  held  in  bondage  by  those  for  whose  own  liberty  he  was 
about  to  hazard  his  immense  fortune  and  his  life. 

Slavery's  influence  had  become  so  great  that,  after  the 
Revolution,  it  was  a  great  embarrassment  in  the  formation  of  the  new 
government.  The  best  statesmen,  South  and  North,  believed  it  in  the 
course  of  ultimate  extinction.  That  all  the  colonies  might  be  induced 
to  enter  the  Union,  compromises  were  incorporated  in  the 
Constitution  whereby,  (i)  It  was  made  a  reserved  right  of  the 
several  States  to  retain  or  abolish  slavery;  (2)  States  retaining  the 
system  were  allowed  a  three-fifths  representation  in  congress  and  the 
electoral  college  for  their  slaves;  (3)  The  foreign  slave  trade  was 
permitted  to  continue  for  twenty  years;  (4)  The  rendition  to  their 
masters  of  slaves  escaping  to  another  State.  The  "institution,"  as  it 
came  to  be  called,  gradually  receded  from  the  Northern  States,  and 
Washington,  as  an  example,  manumitted  his  own  slaves  at  his  death. 

INFLUENCE   OF   THE   COTTON    GIN. 

About  this  period  slavery  received  a  great  stimulus  in  the  South 
from  the  invention  of  the  cotton  gin  a  few  years  before  by 

Eli  Whitney,  a 
school-m  aster 
from  Connecticut 
teaching  in  the 
South.  It  was  a 
machine  so  simple 
that  the  rudest 
African  could 
operate  it  and 
separate  the  cot 
ton  seeds  from 
the  fibre.  The 
great  demand  for 
cotton  and  its 
preparation  for 
the  market  made 
thus  easy,  its 

SLAVES  AND   THE  COTTON   GIN. 


THE  SLAVEHOLDERS'  REBELLION.  u 

enhanced,  and  slavery  became  profitable  in  the  cotton  growing  States. 
These  States,  upon  the  termination  of  the  foreign  slave  trade,  relied 
upon  the  border,  or  slave  States  adjacent  to  the  free  States,  for  their 
supply  of  human  chattels,  and  thus  the  system  became  a  source  of 
profit  to  the  entire  South.  For  this  it  was  fostered,  and  its 
extension  and  protection  became  the  chief  effort  and  study  of 
Southern  statesmen. 


COMPROMISES   FOR   SLAVERY  —  ITS   BARBARISM. 

Slavery  became  a  power  in  the  Nation.  Scarcely  a  question 
arose  in  State  or  Church,  but  had  slavery  as  a  factor  in  its 
determination.  Its  demands  were  usually  made  with  the  alternative 
of  a  dissolution  of  the  Union.  Under  such  threats,  in  1820,  a  new 
compromise  was  granted  the  South,  by  which,  in  lieu  of  the  admission 
of  Missouri  as  a  slave  State,  all  territory  of  the  Louisiana  Purchase 
north  of  36°  30-  should  ever  after  be  free.  This  became  known 
as  the  Missouri  Compromise.  In  1845,  it  demanded  the  annexation 
of  Texas  and  the  Mexican  War,  all  for  the  acquisition  of  territory 
from  which  to  carve  new  slave  States.  In  1850,  it  again  threatened 
the  Union  without  new  guaranties.  Its  behests  were  granted  with 
the  odious  Fugitive  Slave  Law,  which  not  only  returned  the  escaped 
slave  to  his  master,  but  gave  the  latter  power  to  carry  off  any  colored 
person,  bond  or  free,  without  jury  trial,  or  permission  of  such  colored 
person  to  testify  in  his  own  behalf,  and  consign  him  to  life-long 
bondage.  Its  enforcement  permitted  the  tearing  away  of  parents  and 
husbands  from  wives  and  children,  and  making  Northern  people 
parties  to  the  inhumanity,  or  suffer  fine  and  imprisonment  for  refusal 
to -act  the  part  of  slave  hounds  at  the  bidding  of  the  master. 

The  South  had  always  practiced  the  inter-state  slave  trade,  which 
was  not  a  reserved  right  of  the  States.  Children  were  taken  from 
mothers  and  husbands  from  wives,  like  animals,  and  sold  from  each 
other  forever!  The  decks  of  boats  going  down  the  Chesapeake,  or 
Ohio  and  Mississippi,  frequently  contained  chained  gangs  of  human 
beings  of  both  sexes  and  all  ages  —  guilty  of  no  crime  —  destined  for 
the  slave  marts  of  the  far  South.  The  people  of  the  North  had  a 
right  to  protest  against  this  internal  (and  infernal)  slave  traffic,  as  a 
matter  of  inter-state  commerce;  but  legislation  thereon  had  never 
been  attempted,  under  threats  that  the  South  would  dissolve  the 
Union. 


12  HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

ABOLITIONISM — AGITATION  —  "UNCLE   TOM'S   CABIN." 

While  Southern  statesmen  and  divines  were  arguing  the 
christianizing  effects  of  slavery  upon  the  African  race,  and 
complaining  against  its  agitation,  they  seemed  to  forget  that  their 
own  conduct  of  their  system  was  largely  the  cause  of  such  agitation 
by  a  few  scattered  "Abolitionists  "  in  the  North.  The  barbarism  of 
slavery  begot  abolitionism.  While  a  portion  of  the  South  was 
fostering  the  foreign  slave  trade  which  had  been  outlawed  as  piracy, 
the  few  abolitionists  in  the  North,  believing  that  slavery  was  not 
divine,  but  the  "  sum  of  all  villainies,"  kept  the  "  underground 
railroad "  in  operation,  by  which  slaves  were  spirited  away  and  on 
towards  the  free  soil  of  Canada.*  The  abolitionists  were  a  despised 
set,  North  and  South,  much  like  the  anarchists  of  the  present  time. 
They  believed  that  slavery  should  be  abolished,  but  just  exactly  how 
this  could  be  brought  about  they  knew  not,  but  ever  wound  up  their 
arguments  with  the  averment  that  the  Almighty  would  in  time  devise 
some  plan  to  such  end.  In  1852,  Mrs.  Harriet  Beecher  Stowe  wrote 
"  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin,"  which  aroused  the  deep  conscience  of  the 
North  by  mildly  disclosing  the  enormities  of  slavery.  Doubtless,  no 
book,  except  the  bible,  was  ever  translated  into  so  many  languages 
about  the  globe,  and  having  been  dramatized  is  at  this  day  the  most 
popular  play  on  the  stage,  in  any  land.  It  was  a  most  powerful 
generator  of  anti-slavery  sentiment,  and  began  to  make  abolitionism 
respectable  in  the  North.  Yet,  notwithstanding  the  growth  of  this 
feeling,  the  two  great  political  parties  of  the  country  —  Whig  and 
Democratic  — insisted  as  late  as  1852,  in  their  national  platforms,  that 
the  constitutional  provisions  relating  to  slavery  must  be  kept  in 
honor.  For  two  years  slavery  agitation  seemed  to  cool  off. 
Abolitionism  and  free-soilism  seemed  to  have  lost  much  of  the  force 
which  "  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin "  gave  them.  Had  the  South  rested  its 
case  where  the  compromises  of  1850  had  left  it,  and  as  endorsed  by 
the  great  political  parties  of  the  land,  the  troublous  times  which 
followed  would  have  been  postponed,  without  doubt,  for  some 
indefinite  time,  if  not  generations. 


*The  Detroit  was  the  "Jordan  River"  for  these  escaping  slaves.  For  many  years,  the  last 
station  on  this  "underground  railroad"  was  located  about  Pullen's  Corners,  Romulus  Township, 
Wayne  County.  By  night  the  fugitives  were  driven  to  the  Detroit  river  and  rowed  across  to  their 
"  Canaan  shore." 


THE  SLAVEHOLDERS'  REBELLION.  13 

GRASPING  POWER  OF  SLAVERY  —  REPEAL  OF  MISSOURI 
COMPROMISE. 

But  slavery  would  not  be  satisfied.  Every  census  showed  a  rapid 
advance  in  population  in  the  North  and  West.  Not  so  in  the  South, 
to  which  immigration,  which  usually  follows  isothermal  lines,  could 
not  be  diverted.  Its  political  power  was  waning.  It  must  have  more 
territory  out  of  which  to  form  new  slave  States.  So,  in  1854,  it 
demanded  and  secured  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise  of 
1820,  thereby  opening  up  to  slavery  all  the  remaining  territory  of  the 
Louisiana  Purchase,  including  Kansas,  Nebraska,  North  Dakota, 
South  Dakota,  Montana  and  Idaho.  The  North  became  aroused  at 
the  grasping  behest  of  the  slave  power,  and  a  firm  stand  was  made 
against  any  extension  of  slavery  beyond  the  limits  of  the  States  in 
which  it  then  existed.  The  Republican  party  came  into  existence  at 
this  time  and  embodied  the  principle  of  non-extension  of  slavery  as  its 
central  idea.  The  Whig  party  went  out  of  existence.  The  free-soilers 
and  abolitionists  generally  voted  with  the  new  Republican  party  as 
being  nearest  to  their  views.  The  largest  portion  of  the  Democratic 
party  in  the  South  and  North,  with  many  old  line  Whigs,  adhered  to 
the  Democratic  party,  whose  central  idea,  as  opposed  to  the 
Republicans,  was,  that  the  question  of  slavery,  with  other  local  issues, 
in  the  territories,  should  be  left  to  a  vote  of  the  people  therein.  This 
doctrine  was  popularly  called  by  its  friends  in  those  days,  "squatter 
sovereignty."  And  thus  the  now  two  great  parties  of  the  country  — 
Democratic  and  Republican, —  so  divided  on  the  question  of  slavery, 
went  into  the  presidential  election  of  1856. 

AGITATION  —  CANING   OF   SUMNER — JOHN   BROWN    RAID. 

And  thus  were  the  floodgates  of  slavery  agitation  re-opened. 
The  years  from  1854  to  1860  were  almost  wholly,  in  congress  and  the 
public  press,  devoted  to  acrimonious  disputes  over  questions  involving 
slavery.  In  country  stores,  on  the  streets,  at  church,  and  everywhere, 
when  two  men  met  of  opposite  political  faith,  a  raspish  debate  with 
hot  words  was  sure  to  follow  on  the  subject  of  slavery.  Its  adherents 
and  opponents  met  in  Kansas  Territory  and  in  fighting  out  the 
question  of  its  being  a  free  -  or  a  slave  State,  on  the  "squatter 
sovereignty"  line,  bloodshed  resulted  between  the  contestants  from 
the  North  and  South  who  met  there.  The  presidential  election  of 
1856  was  the  bitterest  and  most  exciting  that  ever  occurred  in  this 
country.  James  Buchanan,  the  Democratic  candidate,  received  the 


14  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

vote  of  all  but  the  entire  solid  South,  defeating  John  C.  Fremont,  the 
Republican  candidate,  who  received  the  electoral  vote  of  the  solid 
North  except  four  States.  And  thus  party  lines  became  distinctly 
sectional  upon  the  slavery  question,  and  the  agitation  went  on 


CHARLES   SUMNKR. 


—  the  South  making  new  demands  under  threats  of  dissolving  the 
Union  in  the  event  of  the  election  of  a  Republican  president,  and  the 
North  passing  personal  liberty  bills,  under  the  reserved  rights  of  the 
States,  rendering  difficult  the  execution  of  the  odious  fugitive 
slave  law. 

Within  the  space  of  three  years,  during  this  period,  occurred  two 
events  which  did  more  than  all  else  to  fire  the  hearts  of  the  two 
sections, —  yet,  vulgarly  speaking,  they  were  mere  side  shows,  but 
attracted  more  attention  than  the  entire  menagerie.  One  was  an 
aggression  against  the  North,  and  created  more  recruits  for  the 
Republican  party  than  all  other  issues.  The  other  was  an  aggression 
against  the  South,  which  did  more  than  all  else  to  advance  the 
secession  sentiment  of  the  South. 

(i).  In  1856,  Senator  Butler,  of  South  Carolina,  delivered  in  the 
United  States  Senate  a  harsh  speech  against  Senator  tSumner,  of 
Massachusetts.  Soon  after,  the  latter  made  an  able  but  sarcastic 


THE   SLAVEHOLDERS     REBELLION.  15 

speech  in  reply,  quite  as  harshly  arraigning  his  opponent  in  debate, 
which  enraged  the  slave-state  senators.  A  day  or  two  later,  while 
Senator  Sumner  was  sitting  alone  at  his  desk  writing  letters,  after  the 
adjournment  of  the  senate,  Preston  S.  Brooks,  a  representative  of 
South  Carolina  and  a  relative  of  Senator  Butler,  stealthily  approached 
Mr.  Sumner's  seat  with  a  heavy  bludgeon,  and  without  warning,  caned 
him  nearly  to  death,  breaking  this  gutta-percha  weapon  over  his 
head  in  his  cowardly  and  murderous  assault.  Several  Southern 
senators  witnessed  the  affair  from  the  cloak  rooms,  ready  to  come  to 
Brooks'  assistance  if  needed.  This  brutal  act  was  applauded  in  the 
South,  and  caused  great  anti-slavery  agitation  in  the  North  as  a 
slavery  blow  at  free  speech  in  the  senate.  After  several  years' 
absence  from  his  seat  by  reason  of  this  outrage,  Mr.  Sumner  returned 
to  his  seat  in  the  senate,  but  eventually  died  of  the  effects  of  the 
caning.  Both  Brooks  and  Butler  went  to  their  graves  within  a  year 
after  the  brutal  assault. 


JOHN   BROWN. 


(2).  In  1859,  the-  South  became  greatly  inflamed  over  the  insane 
act  of  a  monomaniac.  John  Brown  was  a  graduate  of  the  pro-slavery 
troubles  in  Kansas.  He  had  been  driven  from  his  home  there,  and 


l6  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

two  of  his  sons  killed  by  pro-slavery  mobs.  On  March  12,  1859,  he 
arrived  in  Detroit  with  fourteen  slaves  from  Missouri.  That  same 
night,  Frederick  Douglass,  the  colored  orator,  lectured  in  Detroit, 
after  which,  John  Brown,  Douglass,  and  several  well-known  colored 
people  of  Detroit  met  at  185  Congress  street  east,  which  seemed  to  be 
a  preliminary  meeting  to  plan  the  Harper's  Ferry  insurrection.  The 
plans  were  perfected  at  Chatham,  Canada,  some  time  after.  With 
twenty-one  followers,  John  Brown  attempted  to  put  them  in 
operation  in  September  following,  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Virginia. 
Seventeen  of  them,  including  their  leader,  were  killed  on  the  spot  or 
hanged.  This  invasion  by  these  few  misguided  men  greatly  inflamed 
the  Southern  heart,  as  indicating  the  attitude  of  the  North  towards 
them.  John  Brown's  act  was  generally  condemned  in  the  North,  and 
was  not  more  insane  than  that  of  the  South  eighteen  months  later, 
when  it  fired  upon  the  flag  the  shot  that  freed  four  million  slaves. 

PRESIDENTIAL   CAMPAIGN   OF    1860. 

The  summer  of  1860  disclosed  the  opening  acts  of  secession  in 
the  Democratic  National  Convention  at  Charleston,  South  Carolina. 
The  conspirators  demanded  advanced  ground  in  behalf  of  slavery. 
Senator  Pugh,  of  Ohio,  evidently  speaking  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas, 
the  great  Democratic  leader  of  the  North,  plainly  told  them  that  the 
party  had  stood  by  the  South  until  it  was  in  the  minority  in  nearly 
every  Northern  State,  and  it  would  never  take  advanced  ground  for 
slavery  in  defiance  of  the  will  of  the  people.  Such  language  the 
South  had  never  before  heard  in  a  national  convention.  The  eyes  of 
the  Southern  delegates  snapped  as  if  lightning  had  struck  the 
building.  They  withdrew  and  nominated  a  slaveholders'  ticket, 
thereby  securing  the  success  of  the  man  whose  election  they  declared 
would  be  a  sufficient  cause  for  dissolving  the  Union. 

The  slavery  question  was  virtually  the  sole  issue  in  this 
presidential  campaign. 

(i).  The  slaveholders'  platform  (Breckenridge  and  Lane's)  held 
that  slavery  existed  in  any  territory  whenever  a  slaveholder  entered 
it  with  his  slaves;  that  neither  congress  nor  a  territorial  legislature 
had  any  power  to  prohibit  its  introduction  or  impair  its  existence 
therein ;  and  that  slaveholders  had  a  right  to  travel  with  their  slaves 
in  the  free  States,  and  with  said  slaves  sojourn  therein  without 
molestation  of  any  free  State  laws. 

(2).  The  Republican  platform  (Lincoln  and  Hamlin's)  held  that 
all  national  territory  was  free,  and  opposed  any  legislation  giving 


THE  SLAVEHOLDERS'  REBELLION.  17 

slavery  validity  therein,  as  well  as  the  admission  of  any  more  slave 
States;  and,  as  a  reserved  right,  a  State  might  free  all  slaves  found 
therein,  except  fugitive  slaves. 

(3).  The  Northern  platform  of  the  Democratic  party  (Stephen  A. 
Douglas')  declared  for  non-intervention  by  congress  with  slavery  in 
the  territories,  leaving  the  question  to  a  vote  of  the  people  therein; 
that  all  rights  of  property  are  judicial,  and  pledging  to  defer  to  the 
decisions  of  the  supreme  court  on  the  subject. 

(4).  The  Pro-slavery  National  Union  platform  (Bell  and 
Everett's)  had  nothing  to  say  on  the  subject. 

The  contest  resulted  in  the  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln  by 
nearly  every  Northern  electoral  vote,  while  the  South  divided  its  votes 
between  Breckenridge  and  Bell. 

THE   DOCTRINE   OF   SECESSION. 

Southern  leaders  had  declared  that  the  election  of  Lincoln  would 
be  a  sufficient  cause  for  seceding  from  the  Union,  and  at  once  began 
to  carry  out  their  threats.  The  doctrine  of  secession  had  been  taught 
for  many  years  in  the  colleges,  magazines  and  press  of  the  South.  In 
brief,  this  doctrine  was  that  a  man's  first  and  highest  allegiance  was 
to  his  State;  that  the  States  as  sovereignties  had  ceded  only  certain 
rights  to  the  federal  government ;  and  whenever  a  State  had  a 
sufficient  grievance,  of  which  itself  was  the  sole  judge,  it  might  resume 
to  itself  all  the  powers  that  it  had  before  it  entered  the  Union.  This 
extraordinary  claim  rested  upon  the  doctrine  that  the  Union  was  only 
a  confederation,  or  compact,  or  agreement  —  a  sort  of  "free  love"  at 
pleasure  between  independent  States,  and  not  a  Nation ;  that  the 
general  reservation  in  the  Constitution,  to  the  States,  of  powers  not 
granted  to  congress  nor  prohibited  to  them,  made  secession  a  reserved 
State  right  by  implication.  Thus  by  a  perversion  of  language  they 
set  up  their  illogical  doctrine  as  an  escapement  for  treasonable 
conduct. 

The  Constitution  itself  best  refutes  these  secession  assumptions. 
This  instrument  was  adopted  in  each  State  by  conventions  of 
delegates  chosen  by  the  people,  and  though,  when  completed,  it  was 
not  submitted  directly  to  the  people,  yet  the  latter  had  a  voice  in  its 
adoption  when  they  elected  the  delegates  of  their  choice.  After 
being  thus  adopted,  it  expressly  voiced  its  own  authority.  In  no  part 
does  it  declare  that  it  is  a  league  of  States,  or  compact  or 
confederacy.  On  the  contrary,  it  plainly  says:  "We,  the  People  of 
the  United  States,  etc.,  do  ordain  and  establish  this  Constitution" 


1 8  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

which  it  declares  to  be  "the  supreme  law  of  the  land,"  "anything  in 
the  constitution  or  laws  of  any  State  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding." 
It  further  declares  as  "  supreme  law,"  that  "  no  State  shall  enter  into 
any  treaty,  alliance  or  confederation"  nor  "  enter  into  any  agreement 
or  compact  with  another  State."  These  are  a  few  of  the  fundamental 
principles  of  the  American  Constitution,  given  up  to  the  general 
government  by  the  States,  not  for  any  specific  period  and  then  to 
terminate  by  some  State's  action,  but  forever.  There  is  not  a  single 
principle  in  the  Constitution  for  its  own  suicidal  dissolution,  and  the 
above  quoted  prohibitions  to  the  States  exclude  every  idea  of 
secession  as  a  reserved  right,  in  any  manner.  Secession  was  simply 
treasonable  rebellion  against  constituted  authority,  established  by  the 
States  themselves.  It  was  not  even  revolution  which  is  right  only 
when  its  cause  is  justifiable  in  the  deep  conscience  of  nations  and  has 
a  reasonable  hope  of  success,  neither  of  which  the  South  had.  We 
shall  not  follow  this  treasonable  doctrine  into  the  mazy  subtleties  of 
John  C.  Calhounism,  nor  dwell  upon  the  many  useless  efforts  in 
Congress  and  peace  conventions  to  conciliate  the  South.  They  were 
compromise  breakers  and  without  honor  in  keeping  agreements.  In 
fact  their  leaders  would  accept  no  compromise  now  —  nothing  less 
than  disunion. 

SLAVE   POWER   BROKEN  —  SOUTHERN   CONFEDERACY   ORGANIZED. 

The  main  cause  of  the  South's  rebellious  conduct  now  was,  that 
slavery  had  ceased  to  rule.  The  federal  government  had  existed 
seventy-two  years,  during  which,  slaveholders  had  held  the  presidency 
over  forty-nine  years.  Of  the  twenty-eight  judges  of  the  supreme 
court,  seventeen  had  been  slaveholders.  The  pro  tern,  presidency  of 
the  Senate  had  been  filled  by  slaveholders  every  year  but  three, 
the  speakership  of  the  House  forty-five  years,  and  so  on.  But 
henceforth,  not  another  slaveholder  would  ever  occupy  the  White 
House.  No  more  wars  for  territory  out  of  which  to  carve  slave  States. 
The  slave  power  was  broken  in  the  Union,  and  having  ceased  to  rule, 
would  now  destroy  it. 

There  were  traitors  in  the  Senate,  in  the  House  and  in  the 
Cabinet.  President  Buchanan  being  indebted  to  the  South  for  his 
election,  charged  all  the  troubles  to  the  North,  declaring  in  his  senility 
that  no  State  had  a  right  to  secede,  but  there  was  no  power  to  prevent 
it  if  it  did.  This  was  plainly  telling  the  Southern  States  that  he 
would  interpose  no  hindrance  to  their  seceding,  and  they  improved 
the  opportunity.  Michigan's  time-honored  statesman  —  Lewis  Cass  — 


THE    SLAVEHOLDERS     REBELLION.  19 

resigned  from  the  Cabinet,  which  act  was  a  fitting  rebuke  to 
Buchanan's  course.  Oh,  for  sixty  days  of  Old  Hickory  to  stamp  out 
this  rebellion  in  its  infancy ! 

While  deprecating  slavery  as  a  heaven-defying  practice,  we  do 
not  anathematize  all  who  held  slaves,  and  these  often  by  inheritance, 
to  whom  the  laws  forbade  manumission.  There  were  good  men 
among  them  as  their  system  allowed.  The  edicts  of  heaven  were 
against  it,  but  what  to  do  they  knew  not,  no  more  than  sober  reason 
in  the  North  could  tell.  Notwithstanding  the  secession  leaders,  there 
was  a  large  Union  sentiment  in  parts  of  the  South,  of  which 
Alexander  H.  Stevens,  of  Georgia,  the  ablest  statesman  in  the  South 
in  his  time,  was  the  exponent.  He  openly  declared  that  the 
South  had  not  sufficient  cause  for  secession,  and  clearly  foretold  the 
evils  that  it  would  bring  upon  that  section.  But  the  "fire-eaters,"  as 
the  radical  disunionists  were  called,  fired  the  Southern  heart,  and  by 
the  most  deceptive  arguments  and  murderous  browbeating  all  but 
four  of  the  slave  States  passed  ordinances  of  secession  and  formed  a 
Southern  Confederacy,  with  Jefferson  Davis  for  president  and 
Alexander  H.  Stevens  for  vice-president.  The  latter  was  a  disciple  of 
Calhoun's  teachings,  and  he  followed  his  State  out  of  the  Union. 


THE   WAR   BEGUN  —  UPRISING   OF   THE   PEOPLE. 

Ere  the  conspirators  in  Washington  had  gone  forth  to  organize 
secession,  the  approaching  storm  became  manifest  by  the  seizure  of 

unguarded  forts  in  the 
seceding  States.  On 
the  night  of  December 
26,  1860,  Major  Ander 
son  transferred  his 
command  of  four  score 
men  from  Fort  Moul- 
trie  to  Fort  Sumter, 
the  strongest  in 
Charleston  Harbor, 
to  the  indignation  of 
all  secessiondom. 

On  March  4,  1861, 
Mr.  Lincoln  became 
President,  and  in  his 

inaugural  address  thus  assured  the  South:     "In  your  hands,  not  in 
mine,  is  the  momentous  issue  of  civil  war.     The  government  will  not 


FORT  SCMTEE — 1861. 


2O  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

assail  you  ;  you  can  have  no  conflict  without  being  yourselves  the 
aggressors."  And  such  they  became  by  firing  upon  the  Nation's  flag 
and  Major  Anderson's  devoted  band  to  prevent  this  half-starved 
garrison  from  receiving  provisions.  The  first  treasonable  shot  was 
fired  before  daybreak  of  April  12,  1861,  and  on  the  following  day, 
when  all  provisions  were  gone  but  half  a  barrel  of  pork,  the  fort  was 
surrendered  to  the  thousands  of  traitors  who  assailed  it. 

The  patriotism  of  the  North  was  powerfully  aroused,  and  all 
loyal  hearts  throbbed  at  the  thought  that  the  secession  traitors  had 
dared  to  fire  upon  the  flag  and  its  defenders.  There  was  a  unity  of 
determination  that  the  dastardly  act  should  be  avenged,  and  the 
President's  call  for  troops  filled  every  loyal  heart  with  patriotic  fervor. 
The  uprising  of  the  people  was  a  sublime  spectacle,  like  that  of  the 
Crusader  hosts  who  sought  to  rescue  the  Holy  Land  from  infidel 
hands.  The  national  flag  was  displayed  from  every  housetop,  and 
busy  preparations  were  made  for  the  coming  struggle. 

THE    NATION    UNPREPARED. 

War  had  come  and  found  the  nation  unprepared  for  it.  For 
many  months  the  South  had  been  preparing  for  the  conflict.  Nearly 
all  the  war  material  had  been  shipped  from  Northern  arsenals  to  the 
South.  At  the  Dearborn  Arsenal,  eight  miles  west  of  Detroit,  in  the 
summer  of  1860,  a  few  boxes  of  guns  were  auctioned  off  at  one  dollar 
apiece,  and  the  balance  sold  for  a  small  sum  to  some  mysterious 
stranger,  an  agent  of  the  embryo  Southern  Confederacy.  Every  war 
vessel  except  a  few  useless  hulks,  had  been  ordered  as  far  away  in 
foreign  seas  as  wind  could  blow  and  water  float  them. 

FIRST   YEAR   OF   THE   WAR. 

•The  first  great  contest  occurred  at  Bull  Run,  on  Sunday,  July 
21,  1861.  The  Union  army  was  everywhere  victorious  until  in  the 
afternoon,  when  re-inforcements  of  the  insurgents  turned  the  tide  of 
battle  in  their  favor,  and  a  panic  routed  our  army  back  to  Washington 
in  great  confusion.  The  South  was  exalted  and  thousands  joined  its 
standards  of  revolt.  The  North  recovered  from  its  humiliation, 
abandoned  the  delusion  that  the  struggle  would  be  brief,  and  made 
preparations  for  a  desperate  war.  Gen.  George  B.  McClellan  was  put 
in  command  to  organize  and  lead  the  national  forces. 

In  the  West,  a  battle  was  fought  at  Wilson's  Creek,  Missouri,  in 
August,  in  which  Gen.  Lyon  of  the  Union  army  was  killed.  In 


THE    SLAVEHOLDERS     REBELLION.  21 

October,  the  Union  Gen.  Baker  lost  his  life  at  Ball's  Bluff  on  the 
Potomac.  In  November,  two  rebel  emissaries,  Mason  and  Slidell, 
were  forcibly  taken  from  the  British  steamer  Trent,  and  a  war  with 
England  barely  averted.  The  South  had  been  the  best  prepared  to 
fight.  Most  of  the  army  and  many  of  the  navy  officers  were  from 
that  section  and  joined  the  Southern  forces,  with  a  few  notable 
exceptions.  And  thus  the  year  1861  closed  dismally  for  the  Union 
cause. 

SECOND   YEAR   OF   THE   WAR  —  SUCCESS   IN   THE   WEST. 

The  year  1862  opened  with  a  series  of  victories  that  cheered  the 
hearts  of  Unionists.  While  "all  quiet  on  the  Potomac"  was  nightly 
for  months,  telegraphed  over  the  land,  good  work  was  being  done  in 
the  West.  January  19  and  20  brought  a  brilliant  victory  at  Mill 
Spring,  Kentucky,  which  prepared  the  way  for  expelling  the  insurgent 
armies  from  that  State  and  Tennessee.  On  February  6  followed  the 
evacuation  of  Fort  Henry  on  the  Tennessee,  and  on  February  8, 
another  victory  at  Roanoke  Island  in  the  East.  Yet  these  hardly 
awakened  the  North  from  its  depression. 

February  14,  15  and  16  brought  a  victory  that  was  the  wonder  of 
both  continents,  and  introduced  to  fame  the  man  who  proved  to  be 
the  general  of  the  war — Ulysses  S.  Grant.  The  Fort  Henry 
insurgents  had  escaped  a  dozen  miles  east,  to  Fort  Donelson  on  the 
Cumberland  river,  where  they  were  arrested  by  Grant's  army.  It  was 
a  keen,  wintry,  Sunday  morning  when,  as  preparations  for  a  renewal 
of  the  battle  were  going  forward,  a  white  flag  appeared.  General 
Buckner  suggested  to  General  Grant  an  armistice  for  commissioners 
to  arrange  a  capitulation.  Then  was  sent  back  the  famous 
''unconditional  surrender"  reply:  "I  propose  to  move  immediately 
upon  your  works,"  was  Grant's  answer,  and  forthwith,  large  white 
sheets  pinned  to  poles  appeared  on  the  fort,  in  token  of  surrender. 
This  capitulation  included  14,000  prisoners  and  a  vast  amount  of 
military  stores,  involving  the  loss  to  the  Confederates  of  Missouri, 
Kentucky  and  all  Northern  and  Middle  Tennessee,  including 
Nashville.  The  moral  effect  of  this  victory  was  like  that  of  Saratoga 
in  the  Revolution.  It  brought  heart  back  to  the  North,  produced 
a  depression  in  the  South  and  set  Europe  to  doubting  the  success  of 
the  Confederate  cause. 

Three  weeks  later  General  Curtis  routed  Van  Dorn  and  Price  at 
Pea  Ridge,  Arkansas.  On  the  6th  and  ;th  of  April  was  fought  at 
Pittsburgh  Landing  on  the  Tennessee,  a  bloody  battle  in  which  the 


22 


HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


"THE  PENINSULA,"  VIRGINIA 


insurgents  were  put  to  route.  On  April  8th,  Admiral  Foote  captured 
Island  No.  10  in  the  Mississippi,  with  5,000  prisoners.  New  Orleans 
and  Memphis  fell  into  Union  hands  soon  after,  and  so  the  successes  in 
the  West  rejoiced  the  nation. 

DISASTER    IN   THE    EAST. 

In  April,  1862,  General  McClellan  transferred  the  main  portion  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  to  Fortress  Monroe  for  the  Peninsular 
Campaign.  Investing  Yorktown  until  its  evacuation,  the  retreating 

enemy  were  overtaken 
at  Williamsburg,  and  put 
to  rout  after  a  sharp 
contest.  Pursuing  to 
the  Chicka hominy, 
McClellan's  advance 
reached  within  seven 
miles  of  Richmond,  the 
Confederate  capital. 
Amid  the  malarial 
swamps  of  this  stream  he 

remained  with  his  army  several  weeks.  It  was  astride  of  the  stream, 
which  by  a  sudden  rise  divided  his  forces.  The  Confederates  attacked 
the  half  that  lay  south  of  that  river,  at  Seven  Pines  and  Fair  Oaks, 
but  were  repulsed.  Meanwhile,  the  Union  army  became  greatly 
reduced  by  malarial  fevers  from  lying  in  the  swamps,  and  the 
Confederates  were  strengthened  by  fresh  conscript  levies. 

On  June  25,  the  insurgent  General  Jackson,  better  known  as 
"Stonewall  Jackson,"  by  forced  marches  from  the  Shenandoah  Valley, 
struck  McClellan's  right,  at  Mechanicsville,  but  was  repulsed  the  next 
day.  On  June  27,  the  enemy  again  attacked  his  right  at  Games'  Farm 
and  drove  it  in,  with  terrible  slaughter  on  both  sides. 

McClellan  now  resolved  to  unite  his  army  on  the  south  side  of 
the  Chickahominy  and  move  it  to  the  James  River  for  a  new  base  of 
supplies.  General  Robert  E.  Lee,  whose  magnificent  residence 
crowned  Arlington  Heights,  in  view  of  Washington,  had  succeeded  to 
the  full  command  of  the  Confederate  forces  about  Richmond.  Lee 
might  have  commanded  the  Union  army  and  become  president  of  the 
United  States,  had  he  not  violated  his  oath  and  become  a  traitor  to 
the  country  which  had  educated  and  honored  him.  But  he  went 
with  his  State  when  it  seceded.  He  hastened  to  intercept  McClellan's 
left  flank  movement,  and  struck  the  Union  army  at  Savage  Station 


THE  SLAVEHOLDERS'  REBELLION.  23 

and  White  Oak  Swamp.  He  pursued  it  to  Malvern  Hill,  where  was 
fought,  on  July  I,  1862,  one  of  the  bloodiest  battles  of  the  war. 
Lee  massed  his  forces  to  carry  the  position  by  storm.  All  the  Union 
cannon  were  drawn  up  along  the  crest  of  the  hill,  and  again  and  again 
did  the  enemy  charge  up  out  of  the  deep  pine  forest,  only  to  be  cut 
in  pieces  by  the  Union  artillery  from  Malvern  Hill  and  the  Union  gun 
boats  lying  in  the  James. 

Although  victorious,  the  withdrawal  of  the  Union  army 
continued  the  next  day  to  Harrison's  Landing  on  the  James. 
McClellan's  army  had  become  greatly  reduced  by  battle,  fevers  and  a 
large  number  on  furlough.  He  called  for  reinforcements,  but  was  told 
that  there  were  none  available.  He  wanted  McDowell's  corps  at 
Fredericksbursf  to  be  sent  to  him.  but  the  President  did  not  deem  it 

o  ' 

prudent  thus  to  uncover  the  defenses  of  Washington  and  allow  a  sally 
by  the  enemy  to  result  in  the  capture  of  the  National  Capital,  as  such 
an  event  might  result  in  the  end  in  a  foreign  recognition  of  the 
Confederacy.  The  military  events  that  followed  a  few  weeks  after 
proved  the  wisdom  of  this  decision.  About  this  time  President 
Lincoln  made  a  call  upon  the  country  for  three  hundred  thousand 
new  volunteers.  And  here  we  must  leave  this  army  to  note  the 
raising  of  this  vast  additional  levy  which  included  the  regiment  whose 
war  history  this  volume  is  designed  to  contain. 


CHAPTER  II. 


RAISING  THE  REGIMENT. 


CALL   FOR   3OO,OOO   MORE    MEN. 

SUCCESSES    of  the   Union  arms  in  the   West   in   the   early 
months  of  1862,  and  the  high  expectations  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  led  to  a  cessation  of  recruiting  in  the  North. 
While  there  was  a  reduction  in  the   Northern  armies  from 
battle  and  disease,  the  Southern  armies  had  been  greatly  increased  by 
conscripts.     The    refusal    of    troops    which    the    early    outburst    of 
patriotism  offered  was  a  mistake  by  our  government. 

On  June  28,  1862,  the  loyal  governors  requested  Mr.  Lincoln 
"to  call  upon  the  States  for  sufficient  men  to  speedily  crush  the 
rebellion,"  and  he  made  a  call  for  300,000  volunteers.  In  Detroit 
there  was  no  response  until  July  n,  when  the  Advertiser  and  Tribune 
said:  "Do  the  people  realize  that  treason  threatens  to  destroy  our 
government?  Hesitation  now  will  confirm  the  invincibility  of  the 
rebellion  and  invite  intervention."  On  July  12  Governor  Blair's 
proclamation  said:  "It  is  the  call  of  your  country  to  defend  its 
existence  and  the  integrity  of  its  territory.  It  comes  by  the  blood  of 
fellow  citizens,  dead,  and  wounded  in  battle.  The  thinned  ranks  of 
our  gallant  regiments,  who  have  made  themselves  and  the  State 
illustrious,  appeal  to  you  to  restore  their  wasted  numbers."  He 
called  for  six  new  regiments,  one  from  each  congressional  district,  and 
recruits  to  fill  up  old  ones. 

WAR   MEETING   TO   PROMOTE   ENLISTMENTS. 

To  facilitate  enlistments,  the  Mayor  called  a  war  meeting  on  the 
Campus  Martius  for  Tuesday  evening,  July  15.  The  Free  Press  thus 
commended  the  call: 

To  ARMS  !  The  Union  is  now  in  its  greatest  peril.  Unless  the  people  rush  to 
the  flag,  the  days  of  American  glory  will  be  gone  forever.  Let  the  meeting  be  marked 
by  harmony,  enthusiasm,  patriotism.  Let  every  man  forget  party  and  behold  only 
his  imperiled  country.  The  federal  union  must  be  preserved.  The  folds  of  the  flag 
must  wave  forever  over  all  the  territory  the  fathers  left  us  or  which  we  have  acquired 
by  the  blood  and  treasure  of  the  nation. 

(24) 


RAISING   THE   REGIMENT.  2$ 

At  the  appointed  hour  the  space  was  filled  with  people  for  a  long 
distance  from  the  stand  which  had  been  erected  oh  the  site  of  the 
Soldiers'  Monument.  The  following  were  the  officers  of  the  meeting: 


CAMPUS   MARTIUS,   DETROIT,   MICH. —  SCENE   OP   WAR   MEETINGS,    1862. —  DETROIT   RIVER 
AND   CANADIAN   SHORE  SEEN   IN  THE    DISTANCE. 

President,  Mayor  William  C.  Duncan ;  vice-presidents,  Hon.  Lewis 
Cass,  Captain  Eber  B.  Ward,  Judge  B.  F.  H.  Witherell,  Hon.  C.  C. 
Trowbridge,  Hon.  John  Owen  and  Hon.  Duncan  Stewart;  secretaries, 
E.  N.  Wilcox  and  William  A.  Moore.  The  Mayor  briefly  addressed 
the  meeting  and  then  introduced  the  Hon.  William  A.  Howard,  who 
made  a  stirring  address.  He  was  followed  by  Theodore  Romeyn. 
When  T.  M.  McEntee  arose  to  speak  the  noise  of  rowdies  prevented 
him.  Recorder  Henry  A.  Morrow  then  spoke  as  follows : 

Fellow  Citizens  —  We  are  met  here  now  in  the  second  crisis  of  our  country. 
[Confusion  among  the  crowd.]  There  is  a  mistaken  feeling  that  this  meeting  is 
preliminary  to  a  draft.  Enough  can  be  procured  without  such  measures.  Every  one 
who  can,  should  go,  and  the  men  who  stay  at  home  must  support  the  families  of  those 
who  go.  This  meeting  is  for  inducing  men  to  volunteer,  and  I  for  one,  am  ready  to 
go.  [Cheers.]  Those  of  us  who  have  no  families  should  go.  I  do  not  propose  that 
men  of  families  shall  perform  duties  that  we  young  men  should  perform.  [Cheers.] 
Let  each  man  ask  himself:  'Will  I  go?'  [A  voice  —  'Will  you  go?']  I  have 
already  said  I  would.  The  government  has  done  as  much  for  me  as  for  you  and  I  am 
ready  to  assist  in  upholding  it.  [Cheers  and  confusion.] 

RIOTOUS   DEMONSTRATIONS. 

The  meeting  ended  in  confusion.  A  few  dozen  secession 
sympathizing  rowdies  were  distributed  about  the  crowd  and  their 
howls  prevented  the  speakers  from  being  heard.  Windsor,  across  the 

(3) 


26  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Detroit  river  in  Canada,  had  become  the  receptacle  of  a  lot  of 
Southerners  who  had  re-inforced  the  mob.  The  instigators  had 
reported  that  the  meeting  was  to  prepare  for  a  draft.  When  Wm. 
A.  Howard  moved  a  committee  to  "draft"  resolutions,  an  old 
eighth-warder  exclaimed:  "  Did  you  hear  that  boys?  Didn't  I  tell 
ye  they  are  going  to  draft?"  And  the  riotous  howls  began. 

The  scoundrels  seemed  to  have  a  spite  against  Capt.  Eber  B. 
Ward  and  Hon.  Duncan  Stewart,  two  noted  Detroit  business  men 
and  Unionists.  They  rushed  for  these  gentlemen,  and  only  by  the 
utmost  exertions  of  Sheriff  Mark  Flanigan  did  they  find  refuge  in  the 
Russell  House.  The  mob  next  broke  down  the  speakers'  stand,  tore 
the  Union  bunting  into  strings,  and  insulted  the  officers  and  speakers 
of  the  meeting.  The  venerable  Lewis  Cass  barely  escaped  their 
vengeance  as  they  rushed  upon  his  carriage.  Next  the  mob  sought 
the  Russell  House  entrance  with  the  avowed  intention  of  hanging 
Messrs.  Ward  and  Stewart,  but  were  met  by  Sheriff  Flanigan  and  a 
deputy,  with  drawn  revolvers,  who  held  the  mob  at  bay  for  an 
hour  and  until  darkness  ended  the  riot. 

The  Advertiser  and  Tribune  thus  mentioned  the  affair: 

The  meeting  was  one  of  the  most  melancholy  spectacles  it  was  ever 
our  lot  to  witness.  At  an  early  hour,  a  rowdy  element  of  formidable  dimensions  was 
present,  composed  of  bigoted,  ignorant  persons  who  had  evidently  been  tampered 
with  through  political  prejudice. 

The  Detroit  Free  Press  thus  spoke  of  the  riot : 

We  regret  the  disturbance  at  the  meeting.  So  far  as  we  can  ascertain,  the 
origin  of  the  difficulty  was  a  rumor  that  the  government  intended  to  draft.  It  was  so 
utterly  without  foundation  that  we  cannot  resist  the  conviction  that  their  motives 
were  infamous.  Yet,  if  the  exigencies  of  the  war  require  a  draft,  we  do. 

not  see  why  it  should  be  resisted. 

THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN   PROJECTED. 

This  disgraceful  event  occurred  near  the  spot  where  General  Hull 
humiliatingly  surrendered  the  city  to  the  British  fifty  years  before,, 
when  General  Lewis  Cass  broke  his  sword  in  disgust.  It  was  a  dark 
week  for  the  City  of  the  Straits.  Other  cities  of  the  North  were 
holding  successful  war  meetings.  Cititizens  gathered  in  knots  to 
discuss  the  matter.  Deep  humiliation  and  indignation  prevailed.  To 
wipe  out  the  disgrace  it  was  resolved  at  a  meeting  of  patriotic 
citizens  at  the  Michigan  Exchange  the  next  evening  to  raise  an  extra 
regiment  in  Detroit  and  Wayne  County,  in  addition  to  their  quota. 


CAPTAIN    EBER   B.    WARD. 


HON.    DUNCAN   STEWART. 


RAISING   THE   REGIMENT. 


29 


For  this  purpose  Adjutant-General  John  Robertson  and  Henry  Barns 
of  the  Advertiser  and  Tribune  went  to  Jackson  to  confer  with 
Governor  Blair. 

MRS.  BLAIR'S  TIMELY  INFLUENCE. 

The  Governor  had  met  with  some  difficulty  in  getting  troops 
accepted  by  the  War  Department.  He  had  sent  sixteen  infantry 
regiments,  and  the  seventeenth  was  being  recruited  with  difficulty. 
Six  new  ones  were  called  for,  which  would  make  twenty-three  ;  and 
to  attempt  the  twenty-fourth  might  retard  the  raising  of  the  others. 
His  consent  was  withheld  until  morning,  when  he  refused.  Mrs. 
Blair  had  been  a  listener  to  the  conversations  for  the  extra 
regiment,  and  now  told  her  husband  that  the  morning  papers  brought 
bad  news  from  the  seat  of  war;  that  the  government  needed  all  the 
men  it  could  get,  and  that,  in  her  opinion,  the  request  of  the  two 
gentlemen  from  Detroit  should  be  granted,  and  the  Governor  finally 
consented.  Little  did  this  patriotic  lady  think  that  her  influence  on 
this  occasion  would  be  productive  of  a  regiment  which,  within  one 
year,  would  rank  among  the  most  distinguished  in  the  army,  by  its 
suffering  the  greatest  loss  of  over  400  regiments  in  the  greatest  and 
bloodiest  battle  of  the  war. 

SECOND    WAR    MEETING   ON   THE   CAMPUS    MARTI  US. 

On  Saturday,  July  19,  the  indignation  of  the  citizens  found  vent 
in  over  3,000  signatures  to  the  following  call: 

MEN  OF  DETROIT  !  The  fair  fame  of  your  city  is  at  stake.  Come  forth  in  your 
might  and  prove  your  patriotism  to  meet  the  crisis.  Your  friends  from  many  a 
stricken  field  call  you  to  the  rescue.  Shall  a  few  pestilent  sympathizers  with  treason 
neutralize  your  patriotic  effort?  Let  an  expression  go  forth  which  shall  rebuke  the 
traitors  and  vindicate  the  patriotism  of  the  city.  All  who  favor  an  energetic 
prosecution  of  the  war  are  requested  to  meet  on  the  Campus  Martius  on  Tuesday 
afternoon  at  3  o'clock,  July  22,  1862. 

Long  before  that  hour  the  people  began  to  assemble  in  numbers 
to  cause  every  patriot  to  rejoice.  Processions  from  foundries,  machine 
shops,  and  shipyards  filed  about  the  speakers'  stand,  which  was 
located  on  the  present  City  Hall  side  of  the  Campus.  Far  up  every 
street  was  a  mass  of  determined  and  enthusiastic  patriotism  —  some 
with  molding  clubs  for  any  secesh  rowdies  who  should  open  their 
blatant  mouths.  The  meeting  wras  called  to  order  by  the  Hon.  E.  C. 
Walker,  and  the  following  officers  chosen:  President,  Mayor  Duncan; 
vice-presidents,  Hon.  Lewis  Cass,  Ross  Wilkins,  Judge  Witherell, 


30  HISTORY   OF   THE    TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Bishop  McCroskey,  Right  Reverend  Lefevre,  Shubael  Conant,  Colonel 
Ruehle,  aldermen  Joseph  Godfrey,  James  Shearer  and  J.  W.  Purcell, 
Adam  Elder,  Gideon  Campbell,  Edward  Kanter,  Alexander  Chapoton 
and  Frederick  Buhl;  secretaries,  Stanley  G.  Wight  and  C.  Wood 
Davis.  After  the  adoption  of  suitable  resolutions,  Recorder  Morrow 
was  loudly  called  for,  and  spoke  as  follows : 

• 

SPEECH   OF   COLONEL    HENRY   A.   MORROW. 

Fellow  Citizens  —  We  are  here  to  rekindle  our  devotion  to  our  beloved  country 
which  is  in  peril.  This  is  the  time  of  its  destiny  ;  this  is  the  crisis  of  its  fate.  From 
this  terrible  struggle  it  will  come  forth  purified  and  respected,  or  it  will  sink  into 
obscurity  and  disgrace,  known  on  the  historian's  page  as  the  weakest  of  human 
inventions.  Our  fathers  thought  they  were  erecting  a  temple  of  liberty  which  should 
last  for  ages,  where  oppression  should  be  unknown  and  freedom  find  an  asylum. 
Unless  this  causeless  rebellion  is  crushed,  the  hopes  of  mankind  in  republican  liberty 
are  blasted.  This  generation  of  loyal  citizens  has  assigned  to  it  the  noblest  work 
ever  intrusted  to  a  nation — that  of  maintaining  in  its  integrity,  the  government  of 
the  United  States.  A  generous  and  intelligent  people  will  not  decline  the  labor. 

Let  us  understand  the  issue.  It  is  government  or  no  government,  national  life 
and  honor,  or  national  death  and  disgrace.  It  is  more  —  it  is  individual  disgrace.  If 
our  Southern  brethren  had  been  menaced  even,  in  their  constitutional  right  to  liberty 
or  property,  I  should  not  be  here  to-day.  By  birth,  by  education,  by  sympathy  and 
interest,  I  am  deeply  attached  to  the  Southern  people,  and  if  the  government  of  the 
United  States  had  turned  aside  from  its  constitutional  prerogatives  of  defending  and 
protecting  the  States,  and  become  their  oppressor  and  destroyer,  I  know  my  duty;  and 
as  certain  as  I  am  here  to-day,  I  should  not  be  here,  but  would  be  found  in  the  ranks 
of  the  Southern  army  ! 

But  this  was  not  so.  The  government  never  oppressed  the  South.  The 
national  statute  book  did  not  contain  a  law  which  deprived  the  South  of  any 
constitutional  right.  Out  of  sixteen  Presidents  the  South  has  furnished  eight,  and 
while  no  Northern  President  was  ever  re-elected,  five  out  of  the  eight  from  the  South 
were  re-elected.  The  country  has  been  forty-nine  years  under  Southern  Presidents 
and  only  twenty-five  years  under  Northern.  It  is  notorious  that  the  Southern  people 
have  enjoyed  a  very  large  proportion  of  the  public  offices.  Is  it  not  a  curious  fact 
that  a  people  who  have  controlled  the  nation  and  shaped  its  foreign  and  domestic 
policy  for  two-thirds  of  the  time,  and  who  have  never  suffered  a  single  wrong  should 
raise  their  hands  to  strike  down  its  flag?  Could  they  anticipate  any  wrong  when 
they  commanded  the  two  houses  of  Congress  and  could  control  the  policy  of  the 
government?  Had  Lincoln  been  disposed  to  do  them  injustice,  he  was  entirely  at 
the  mercy  of  Congress.  It  was  not  oppression,  nor  the  fear  of  it,  that  drove  the 
South  into  rebellion,  but  an  unholy  lust  for  power. 

The  war  was  forced  upon  us.  The  South  began  the  conflict.  The  government 
struck  no  blow.  It  simply  demanded  the  right  to  perform  an  act  of  humanity  which 
the  Southern  people  should  have  performed  themselves.  It  asked  that  bread  might 
be  sent  to  a  starving  garrison.  Major  Anderson  was  nearly  out  of  supplies,  and  in 
response  to  an  arrogant  demand  for  surrender,  he  returned  the  thrilling  reply,  "If  you 
will  wait  till  to-morrow  noon  I  shall  be  out  of  provisions,  and  hunger  will  compel  me 
to  surrender!"  Did  they  Wait?  No,  but  like  savages  opened  their  guns  upon  Fort 


RAISING    THE    REGIMENT.  31 

Sumter.  Their  Secretary  of  War  and  Jefferson  Davis  made  speeches  at  the 
Confederate  Capital  that  night.  The  former  declared  that  "  THEY  had  that  day  begun 
a  war,  the  issue  of  which  no  man  could  foretell" — a  confession  from  one  in  authority 
that  THEY,  and  not  WE,  were  the  aggressors.  Now,  can  any  man,  in  a.  situation  to 
serve  his  country,  hesitate  as  to  what  is  his  duty  in  this  hour  of  danger  and  disaster? 
Will  you  see  your  country  dishonored  before  the  world  and  raise  no  hand  to  save  it? 

Patriotism  is  natural  to  the  human  heart.  Love  of  country  is  one  of  the  noblest 
feelings  in  the  breast  of  man.  It  belonged  to  the  Greek  and  Roman  in  ancient  times, 
and  it  burns  like  a  star  in  the  heart  of  every  lover  of  his  country.  It  moved 
Washington  amid  the  snows  of  Valley  Forge,  and  it  inspires  the  hearts  of  twenty 
millions  of  people  in  the  loyal  States.  It  is  an  instinct  in  the  breast  of  every  honest 
man.  The  noblest  heroes  in  history,  whose  names  are  synonyms  of  courage  and 
fidelity,  have  devoted  their  lives  to  their  country.  Hampden,  and  Sydney,  and 
Russell,  were  patriots,  and  history  has  embalmed  their  names  in  its  choicest  amber. 
Emmet  was  a  patriot  and  martyr,  and  his  very  name  will  ever  arouse  the  Irish  nation. 
Washington,  first  and  best  of  men,  was  a  patriot,  and  the  world  claims  him  for  its 
own.  Major  Anderson  is  a  patriot,  and  the  children  of  men  through  generations 
shall  read,  with  glowing  hearts,  his  heroic  defense  of  Sumter. 

My  young  friends,  I  appeal  to  you  by  all  that  is  sacred,  to  come  forward  and 
sustain  your  government.  Are  you  a  patriot?  Now  is  the  time  to  show  it.  Do  you 
seek  comfort  and  security  for  yourselves  and  families  ?  Come  then,  and  help  subdue 
this  insurrection.  Have  you  a  pride  in  the  greatness  and  respectability  of  your 
government?  They  are  gone  forever  unless  this  rebellion  is  subdued.  We  shall  sink 
into  a  fifth-rate  power  and  be  as  contemptible  as  Mexico  or  Morocco.  Do  you  wish 
for  adventure  and  distinction?  Here  is  the  field  in  the  best  fed,  best  clothed,  and 
most  intelligent  army  that  ever  went  forth  to  battle. 

One  word  for  myself.  I  am  going  to  the  field.  I  invite  you  to  go  with  me.  I 
will  look  after  you  in  health  and  in  sickness.  My  influence  will  be  exerted  to  procure 
for  you  the  comforts  of  life,  and  lead  you  where  you  will  see  the  enemy.  Your  fare 
shall  be  my  fare,  your  quarters  my  quarters.  We  shall  together  share  the  triumph,  or 
together  mingle  our  dust  upon  the  common  field.  We  are  needed  on  the  James 
River.  Our  friends  and  brothers  are  there.  Let  us  not  linger  behind.  In  this  time 
of  national  peril,  the  government  turns  to  you.  Let  it  not  appeal  in  vain.  [Prolonged 
applause.] 

LAST   PUBLIC    SPEECH    OF    HON.    LEWIS    CASS. 

Hon.  Lewis  Cass  was  loudly  called  for.  He  was  too  feeble  to 
make  more  than  a  brief  speech,  but  the  immense  crowd  would  brook 
no  refusal  from  this  noted  descendant  of  a  former  generation.  He 
had  made  Detroit  his  home  for  over  half  a  century  and  had  held 
many  high  positions  of  national  trust  and  honor.  It  was  his  last 
speech  in  public  life,  and  his  few  remarks  were  influential  throughout 
the  Union.  The  venerable  statesman  spoke  as  follows : 

Fellow  Citizens  —  Standing  here  and  witnessing  the  patriotic  enthusiasm  of  the 
people,  my  heart  is  too  full  for  utterance.  There  is  no  man  who  feels  more  anxious 
that  the  Constitution  shall  be  preserved  as  it  was  given  to  us  by  our  fathers.  We  of 
this  generation  have  a  noble  duty  to  perform  for  mankind.  We  are  to  preserve  this 
fair  land  a  heritage  to  our  children  and  to  freedom  forever.  Our  fathers  endured 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


HON.    LEWIS   CASS. 


much  in  their  struggle  for  independence,  and  shall  we  prove  degenerate  sons  of  those 
noble  sires?  It  cannot  be.  The  people  of  the  North  will  rescue  the  government. 
[Cheers.] 

SPEECH    OF   SHERIFF   MARK   FLANIGAN. 

Fellow  Citizens — At  a  time  like  this  it  behooves  every  man  to  put  forth  his 
utmost  energies  in  defense  of  the  government.  Every  man  who  is  loyal  to  his  once 
happy  land  and  abhors  rebellion,  should  rise  to  a  full  sense  of  his  duty  in  this  hour 
of  its  adversity.  Judge  Morrow  and  myself  are  going  to  raise  a  regiment.  I  hope 
every  man  will  respond  to  his  country's  call.  [Cheers.] 


SPEECH   OF   HON.    DUNCAN   STEWART. 

Fellow  Citizens  —  I  have  not  the  language  to  deal  a  sufficiently  withering  rebuke 
to  those  who  instigated  the  violence  at  the  former  meeting.  This  regiment  must  be 
raised.  Though  I  cannot  go  myself,  I  have  money  and  it  shall  be  poured  out  freely 
in  this  cause.  I  will  give  five  dollars  to  every  man  who  shall  enlist  in  the  first 
company  mustered  into  this  regiment.  I  will  give  four  dollars  a  month  during  the 
war  to  twenty-five  families  where  there  are  four  children,  and  two  dollars  a 
month  to  twenty  families  where  there  are  three  children,  the  fathers  of  whom 
shall  enlist  in  this  regiment.  [Cheers,]  The  aldermen,  as  supervisors,'  have  done 
much  to  discourage  enlistments  by  their  disreputable  manner  in  looking  after  the 
wants  of  volunteers'  families,  who  had  been  compelled  to  beg  about  our  streets  for 
bread,  and  when  they  applied  for  provisions,  the  answer  was,  '  Oh  !  your  husband  was 
a  drunken  fellow  ! '  Gentlemen  aldermen,  you  have  nothing  to  do  with  what 
difference  it  makes  if  the  husband  was  a  shiftless  vagabond.  I  have  more  respect 
for  a  drunken  patriot  than  an  unpatriotic  alderman.  [Cheers.] 

SPEECH    OF   HON.   JAMES   F.   JOY. 

Fellow  Citizens — I  am  proud  that  I  am  a  citizen  of  Detroit.  That  our  city  is 
loyal  to  the  core,  this  meeting  proves.  The  Constitution  is  in  peril.  It  is  a  war,  not 
for  tariff  or  free  trade,  or  sailors'  rights.  Before  me  are  men  of  every  nation.  It 


RAISING   THE    REGIMENT.  33 

depends  on  us  whether  this  country  shall  fall  and  be  a  shame  in  the  eyes  of  the  world. 
If  not,  we  must  fight.  There  was  a  time  when  the  Roman  Republic  was  invaded  by 
Hannibal.  Many  of  the  provinces  revolted  and  joined  him.  The  Roman  armies 
were  almost  totally  destroyed.  They  raised  another  army,  and  yet  another,  and  won. 
Let  us  emulate  their  example.  [A  voice — 'Will  you  go?']  They  will  not  have  me, 
but  I  will  furnish  twenty  substitutes.  [Cheers.]  What  I  have  is  at  the  service  of 
my  country,  if  it  takes  every  dollar.  [Applause.] 

Hon.  C.  I.  Walker  and  others  made  brief,  patriotic  speeches,  and 
great  enthusiasm  was  manifested  throughout  the  meeting.  It  was  a 
great  success,  and  if  any  secession  scoundrels  were  present  they  wisely, 
for  themselves,  concealed  the  fact.  The  meeting  was  not  only 
productive  of  putting  a  full  regiment  into  the  field  in  a  brief  period, 
but  it  stimulated  enlistments  throughout  the  State,  as  its  details 
made  known  what  efforts  were  made  here  on  the  Nation's  border  in 
response  to  the  President's  call  for  troops. 


THE    WAR    MEETING. 

Heretofore,  the  war  meeting  had  been  little  known.  Regiments 
in  the  field  had  been  raised  without  excitement.  Soldiers  had 
enlisted  at  some  recruiting  office,  or  with  some  officer  who  appeared 
in  town  or  village  and  quietly  solicted  recruits.  Those  who  had  entered 
the  service,  up  to  this  period,  seemed  to  have  been  but  the  surplus 
population,  and  affairs  moved  on  in  the  North  much  as  though  no  war 
existed.  But  this  urgent  call  of  the  President  for  so  large  a  number 
of  men  forthwith  changed  the  whole  order  of  recruiting.  It  was  like 
a  second  Holy  Land  crusade,  and  every  community  was  stirred  to  its 
depths.  The  great  struggle  for  national  life  had  apparently  but  just 
begun.  Heroic  bugle  calls  and  war  drum-beats  more  than  ever 
sounded  the  alarm  notes  for  a  general  uprising  of  the  Nation's 
reserves. 

And  so  the  war  meeting  became  a  new  feature  and  was  a  solemn 
affair.  It  brought  deep  reflection  to  every  mind.  It  disarranged 
completely  the  future  plans  of  many.  It  was  usually  held  in  some 
hall,  church  or  schoolhouse;  frequently  in  open  air.  Appeals  of 
orators  called  for  volunteers  —  not  to  vote  for  some  political 
candidate  or  consider  the  questions  of  a  life  beyond  the  grave,  but  to 
hazard  their  lives  for  their  country's  salvation.  Should  we  submit  to 
national  disintegration,  or  fight?  Should  we  allow  traitors  to  insult 
our  flag  and  destroy  the  country  upon  the  election  of  a  President  in 
the  usual  constitutional  way,  or  fight?  Must  cheeks  of  Americans,  at 


34  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

home  and  abroad,  tinge  with  shame  and  reproach  at  the  conduct  of 
traitors,  or  shall  we  fight? 

Solemn  reflections  burdened  every  countenance,  emphasized  by 
the  fact  that  the  early  romance  of  the  war  had  passed  away.  Battle 
lists  of  killed  and  wounded  appeared  in  almost  every  paper.  Coffined 
remains  of  soldier-dead  were  borne  home, —  evidence  of  the  stern 
reality  of  a  fearful  war.  To  enlist  now  might  mean  a  bloody  shroud, 
an  ebbing  away  of  life's  current  'in  old  fields  and  ravines  in  the  far 
South,  as  well  as  pillows  of  sorrow  at  home.  It  meant  silvered  heads 
bowed  in  their  last  grief,  and  the  bride  of  a  month  wearing  the 
widow's  weeds.  Wonder  not,  then  at  the  wife's  pale  cheek  as  she 
notes  the  flushed  face  of  her  husband.  She  plainly  reads  his  resolve 
ere  he  signs  the  enlistment  roll.  Yonder  mother,  with  quivering  lip, 
observes  her  youthful  boy's  attention  to  the  recital  of  his  Nation's 
wrongs,  and  pales  as  he  acts  upon  the  impulse  to  fight  his  country's 
battles,  while  the  aged  father  buries  his  grief  in  thoughtful  silence. 

"The  time  has  come  when  brothers  must  fight, 
And  sisters  must  pray  at  home." 

WAR   MEETINGS   IN   WAYNE   COUNTY. 

And  'so,  for  a  brief  period  after  the  great  war  meeting  on  the 
Campus  Martius,  the  war  excitement  in  Wayne  county  exceeded 
anything  in  the  annals  of  Michigan.  Fife  and  drum  were  heard  on 
every  street,  and  war  meetings  were  of  daily  and  nightly  occurrence, 
for  recruiting  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan.  Captain  Cullen  enlisted 
nearly  his  entire  company  the  first  Sunday.  Factories,  shipyards  and 
foundries  were  closed,  threshing  machines  stopped,  grain  left  uncut  in 
the  field.  Recruits  went  from  farm  to  farm,  gathering  additions  in 
each  neighborhood.  One  Canton  farmer  whose  boys  had  enlisted, 
said:  "Why,  boys,  are  you  going  to  leave  me  in  the  midst  of  my 
threshing?"  One  of  them  replied:  "But,  father,  Uncle  Sam  has  a 
bigger  job  of  threshing  to  do."  Contractors  would  leave  workmen 
upon  a  building  in  the  morning,  but  upon  returning  to  note  the 
progress  of  their  labor,  would  hear  the  sound  of  neither  hammer  nor 
saw.  A  neighbor  would  inform  him  that  his  men  might  be  found 
enlisted  over  yonder,  in  Colonel  Morrow's  regiment,  as  they  had  all 
gone  there  with  a  recruiting  officer. 

Colonel  Morrow  announced  war  meetings  in  various  parts  of 
Detroit  and  Wayne  county,  which  were  addressed  by  himself  and 
some  of  the  following  speakers:  Mark  Flanigan,  Lieutenant-Governor 


RAISING   THE    REGIMENT.  35 

Backus,  David  E.  Harbaugh,  E.  N.  Wilcox,  C.  I.  Walker,  Colonel 
Sylvester  Lamed,  Henry  C.  Knight,  William  Jennison,  Henry  M. 
Cheever,  Rev.  Manasseh  Hickey,  Rev.  Seth  Reed,  J.  Logan  Chipman, 
Alfred  Russell,  and  others. 

At  Perkins'  Hotel,  on  Grand  River  avenue,  Saturday  evening, 
July  26,  was  an  immense  gathering.  The  patriotic  appeals  reached 
the  hearts  and  pockets  of  the  multitude.  The  recruiting  was  lively 
for  Captain  Warren  G.  Vinton's  company.  One  could  not  go  because 
of  a  wife  and  five  children,  but  he  would  contribute  one-tenth  of  his 
earnings  for  the  families  of  those  who  did  go.  Another  had  no 
money,  but,  stretching  forth  his  brawny  arm,  exclaimed,  "I  have 
muscle,  and  my  country  shall  have  that."  An  enthusiastic  meeting 
was  held  at  Clark's  Dry  Dock  (Springwells)  the  same  evening. 

On  Monday  evening,  July  28,  over  5,000  gathered  in  front  of  the 
Biddle  House  to  hear  Senator  Jacob  M.  Howard,  Hon.  Rowland  E. 
Trowbridge,  Governor  Austin  Blair,  Captain  E.  B.  Wight,  and  others. 
Judge  James  V.  Campbell  presided.  Two  brass  pieces  were  brought 
up  from  the  Fort  and  a  salute  of  thirty-four  guns  was  fired. 

On  Wednesday  evening,  July  30,  Degendre's  Hall,  in  the  old 
seventh  ward,  was  filled,  and  the  enthusiasm  brought  several  recruits. 

On  Thursday,  July  31,  two  spirited  demonstrations  were  held  in 
the  Congregational  church  at  Wayne.  In  the  afternoon,  Colonel 
Morrow  earnestly  pleaded  with  the  wives  and  mothers  to  give  up 
their  husbands  and  sons  for  their  country.  Upon  a  vote,  many 
women  rose  up  who  were  willing  to  make  the  sacrifice.  One  mother 
of  five  boys  arose  in  opposition,  declaring  she  would  disown  her  sons 
if  they  should  go.  Upon  hearing  that  two  of  them  had  enlisted,  she 
relented,  and  called  God's  blessing  upon  them.  It  was  only  a 
mother's  excusable  love.  Dr.  Alexander  Collar  presided  at  the 
evening  meeting.  The  enthusiasm  was  strong  and  good  results 
followed.  A  large  number  of  ladies  were  present,  who  manifested 
their  approval  with  smiles  and  tears. 

On  Friday,  August  i,  a  goodly  number  enlisted  in  Captain  W.  W. 
Wight's  company,  at  a  meeting  at  Livonia  Center.  The  same 
evening  a  most  excitable  gathering  was  held  on  the  corner  of 
Beaubien  and  Elizabeth  streets.  It  was  dark,  and  a  candle  afforded 
light  for  signing  the  enlistment  roll.  Captain  William  J.  Speed  was 
the  chief  speaker.  As  the  announcements  of  the  names  of  recruits 
were  made,  the  young  men  tossed  their  hats  in  the  air  and  the  old 
men  shouted  for  joy. 


36  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN. 

On  Saturday,  August  2,  at  the  Redford  Center  meeting,  the 
people  were  inspired  by  the  deepest  sentiments  of  patriotic  devotion, 
and  over  forty  enlisted.  The  Methodist  church  of  the  place  had  been 
foreclosed  on  a  mortgage,  and  sold  back  to  the  congregation  for  their 


OAKLAJVD  CO 


MACOMB  CO. 


sat 


TOWNSHIP  MAP   OF  WAYNE  COUNTY,   IN   WHICH  THB   "TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN"   WAS   RECRUITED 

IN   AUGUST,    1862. 

individual  notes.  The  holder  of  these  notes  was  at  this  war  meeting 
a  few  weeks  after,  and  agreed  to  return  to  each  man  his  note,  who 
would  enlist.  Nearly  every  note  was  cancelled  on  the  spot.  This 
same  evening  a  meeting  was  held  at  Grosse  Pointe,  and  on  Monday 
night,  August  4,  there  was  a  fine  rally  at  the  corner  of  Seventh  street 
and  Michigan  avenue. 

The  Plymouth  meeting,  on  Tuesday,  August  5,  will  never  be 
forgotten  while  any  one  who  was  present  survives.  The  triangular 
grove  in  the  village  witnessed  one  of  the  largest  outpourings  ever  held 


RAISING   THE   REGIMENT.  37 

in  the  county.  The  excitement  was  intense,  and  many  affecting  scenes 
occurred  to  thrill  the  heart  as  the  enlistments  were  announced- 
Nearly  an  entire  company  enlisted  inside  of  two  hours  amid  the 
wildest  enthusiasm.  It  was  truly  an  en  masse  meeting,  and  an  honor 
to  that  loyal  old  township. 

At  the  Pike's  Peak  meeting,  on  Wednesday,  August  6, 
thirty-three  volunteered,  one  man  donating  a  cow  to  the  relief  fund. 
On  the  same  day,  very  successful  meetings  were  held  in  Greenfield, 
and  at  Euler's  Hall  in  Detroit. 

The  Dearborn  meeting,  on  Thursday,  August  7,  was  a  general 
turnout,  and  thirty-one  volunteered.  Dr.  Sweeney  canceled  all 
accounts  against  any  volunteer,  and  gave  his  services  free  to  the 
families  of  those  enlisting. 

At  Belleville,  Friday,  August  8,  a  large  open  air  meeting  was 
held.  Hon.  C.  I.  Walker  made  the  chief  address,  and  fifteen  enlisted. 

At  Flat  Rock,  on  Saturday,  August  9,  the  loyal  citizens  of 
Brownstown,  Huron  and  Sumpter  assembled  in  great  numbers,  many 
ladies  being  present  and  several  bands  of  music.  The  ladies 
contributed  liberally  to  the  relief  fund.  Alexander  Kittle  could  not 
go,  but  gave  two  cows.  Lieutenant  Wallace  enrolled  forty-seven 
recruits,  and  was  tendered,  through  Dr.  John  L.  Near,  a  sword  and 
belt  for  his  past  services  in  the  army. 

On  the  same  evening,  at  Trenton,  a  war  meeting  was  held, 
women,  children,  and  even  Canadians  from  over  the  river  contributing 
to  the  relief  fund.  On  Monday,  August  n,  the  final  meeting  for 
filling  up  the  regiment  was  held  at  Wyandotte,  at  which  Captain  Eber 
B.  Ward  was  the  leading  spirit. 

And  thus  the  recruitment  of  the  regiment  proceeded.  Colonel 
Morrow  received  authority  to  raise  the  regiment  on  Saturday, 
July  19,  and  recruiting  began  that  day,  but  not  till  a  week  later, 
July  26,  was  it  arranged  who  should  try  to  raise  companies  and  enlist 
recruits  for  commissions.  In  ten  days  thereafter,  exclusive  of 
Sundays,  enough  had  enlisted  for  the  regiment's  organization. 
Within  two  weeks  from  the  arrangement  of  July  26,  the  maximum 
limit  was  reached  and  the  regiment  mustered.  Men  were  even  turned 
away  to  other  regiments.  Captain  Edwards  recruited  the  last 
company  within  two  days. 

AT   CAMP    BARNS. 

The  Detroit  Riding  Park,  or  old  State  Fair  Ground,  was 
designated  as  the  place  of  rendezvous  and  called  "  Camp  Barns," 


38  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

after  Henry  Barns,  editor  of  the  Advertiser  and  Tribune.  The  field 
extended  from  Woodward  to  Cass  avenue,  and  from  Alexandrine 
avenue  on  the  south  to  a  point  a  few  rods  north  of  Canfield  avenue. 
Here,  on  July  29,  Captain  Cullen's  company  went  into  camp,  followed 
the  next  day  by  the  companies  of  Captains  Vinton  and  Ingersoll. 
By  August  6,  those  of  Captains  E.  B.  Wight,  Owen  and  Speed  had 
joined  the  camp,  which  now  assumed  a  martial  aspect.  The  other 
companies  came  in  directly  after  and  all  were  lettered  as  follows : 

Company  A  —  Captain  E.  B.  Wight.  Company   F  —  Captain  Edwards. 
B —                   Ingersoll.  G —  Owen. 

C—  Crosby.  H—  Vinton. 

D  —  Speed.  I  -  Gordon. 

E—  Cullen.  K-  W.W.Wight. 

On  Wednesday  afternoon,  August  13,  Col.  J.  R.  Smith,  U.  S.  A., 
mustered  Companies  A,  B,  D,  E  and  G  into  the  United  States 
service,  and  on  Friday,  August  15,  he  mustered  in  Companies  C,  F, 
H,  I  and  K. 

The  sudden  manner  in  which  those  enlisting  had  to  give  up  their 
wage-earning  occupations,  would  have  resulted  in  hardship  to  their 
families,  had  not  the  city  and  citizens  of  Detroit  raised  a  relief  fund 
to  assist  the  families  of  volunteers  until  the  paymaster  came  up. 
And  thus,  while  not  a  man  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  received 
a  cent  of  State  or  County  bounty,  through  the  liberality  of  generous 
friends,  a  relief  fund  was  raised  for  those  enlisting  in  Detroit.  This 
course  was  pursued  in  four  or  five  townships,  but  those  enlisting  in 
the  other  townships  received  no  local  aid  whatever. 

On  August  23,  the  allotment  commission  visited  camp  and 
arranged  for  the  assignment  of  portions  of  the  soldiers'  monthly  pay 
for  the  benefit  of  their  families.  The  men  were  very  liberal,  giving 
nearly  all  their  pay  to  those  at  home  dependent  upon  them. 

The  few  days  between  the  mustering  and  day  of  departure  were 
occupied  with  busy  preparations  for  the  field.  Clothing  and  arms 
were  distributed  and  the  voice  of  the  drillmaster  was  heard  from 
daylight  till  dark.  Relatives  and  friends  crowded  the  camp  daily,  to 
complete  final  home  arrangements  with  those  who  so  suddenly  were 
leaving  their  firesides  for  the  war. 

PRESENTATIONS. 

Presentations  were  numerous.  On  August  18,  J.  Logan  Chipman, 
on  behalf  of  some  friends,  presented  a  sword  to  Captain  Cullen,  who 
replied: 


RAISING   THE    REGIMENT.  39 

Friends  —  There  are  emotions  which  no  man  can  express.  They  are  felt  and 
buried  in  the  grave,  unknown  to  those  who  excite  them.  Such  are  mine  at  this 
moment. 

On  August  22,  Adjutant  Barns  was  presented  with  a  sword  by 
his  brother,  Henry  Barns,  who  said  : 

Sir — For  long  months  you  have  been  a  prisoner  in  rebel  dungeons.  May  this 
sword  witness  that  your  own  and  your  country's  wrongs  are  avenged. 

To  which  Adjutant  Barns  replied: 

I  shall  observe  your  admonitions  with  all  the  will  which  my  own  and  my 
country's  wrongs  prompt." 

On  the  same  day,  H.  N.  Walker,  for  the  Free  Press,  in  the 
presence  of  Company  E,  gave  Lieutenant  O'Donnell  a  sword,  who 
replied : 

Sir — To  be  the  recipient  of  this  blade  from  a  body  with  whom  I  have  labored 
for  years,  is  a  happy  honor.     In  the  hands  of  an  O'Donnell  it  will  never  cause  a  blush 
1  to  mount  the  cheeks  of  those  kind  friends. 

%: 

On  that  evening,  the  friends  of  Captain  E.  B.  Wight  presented 
him  with  a  sword,  who  accepted,  saying : 

Friends  and  Neighbors  —  Going  forth  with  hundreds  of  others  in  Detroit's 
favorite  regiment,  may  it  never  be  said  that  I  disgraced  my  birthplace,  and  may  the 
record  show  that  I  have  proved  faithful  to  this  trust.  God  bless  you  all. 

On  August  23,  Captain  Vinton  was  presented  with  a  sword  by 
H.  C.  Knight,  Esq.,  who  said: 

Sir  —  Your  neighbors  present  you  with  this  weapon.  You  understand  the 
claims  of  our  beloved  country  upon  her  citizens,  for  you  have  dedicated  to  her  your 
life.  We  need  not  urge  you  to  be  a  true  soldier,  for  no  man  but  a  hero  is  expected  to 
enlist  in  a  Michigan  regiment.  May  God  bless  you,  and  when  this  sword  flashes  in 
the  face  of  foes,  remember  kindly  your  friends  who  have  not  the  privilege  of  serving 
by  your  side. 

Captain  Vinton  responded  with  feeling  and  in  fitting  terms. 
On  August  25,  Captain  Edwards'  Company  presented  him  with  a 
sword  through  Colonel  Morrow,  which  he  accepted,  saying : 

Colonel  Morrow  and  Men  —  I  receive  this  sword  with  the  sacred  resolution  so  to 
use  it,  that  neither  you  nor  I  shall  ever  regret  your  kindness.  I  am  devoted  to  the 
cause  of  my  country  and  the  blade  I  now  draw  shall  not  be  sheathed  till  the  stars  and 
stripes  shall  wave  over  every  foot  of  American  soil. 


4O  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Other  sword  presentations  were  made  —  to  Lieutenant  Birrell,  by 
his  friends;  to  Captain  Speed,  by  the  Detroit  Bar;  to  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Flanigan,  a  sword  by  the  deputy  sheriffs  of  Wayne  County, 
and  a  horse  by  other  friends  ;  to  Doctor  Collar,  a  sword  by  citizens 
of  Wayne;  to  Lieutenant  Farland,  a  sword  by  Company  D;  to 
Lieutenant  Rexford,  a  sword  from  the  Detroit  Bar;  to  Lieutenant 
Dillon,  a  sword  from  the  Holders'  Association ;  to  Lieutenant 
Yemans,  a  sword  from  friends  of  the  First  M.  E.  Church  of  Detroit. 
Captains  Ingersoll  and  Owen,  and  Lieutenants  Sprague,  Hutchinson, 
Burchell  and  other  officers  were  remembered  in  similar  manner. 

On  August  25,  the  friends  of  Colonel  Morrow  presented  him  with 
a  three  hundred  dollar  horse  purchased  from  Samuel  Lyndon  of 
Canton,  through  William  Jennison,  who  said : 

Colonel — It  seems  but  yesterday  that  you  pledged  the  people  to  organize  a 
regiment.  That  pledge  stands  redeemed,  and  one  thousand  brave  men  await  your 
command  to  march  to  the  front.  With  grateful  pride  at  your  success,  your  neighbors 
ask  you  to  accept  this  living  token  —  in  peace  the  emblem  of  labor.  Amid  the  storm 
of  battle,  may  it  bear  you  triumphantly  against  your  country's  foes. 

Colonel  Morrow  replied  as  follows: 

The  worth  of  this  present  is  a  thousand  times  enhanced  by  the  fact  that  it  is  a 
gift  from  the  citizens  of  Detroit,  among  whom  I  have  passed  all  the  days  of  my 
manhood.  This  camp,  the  roll  of  yonder  drums,  and  these  brave  men,  all  seem  like  a 
dream.  But  yesterday,  I  was  in  the  quiet  pursuit  of  my  profession.  I  am  here 
because  my  country  needs  my  services.  I  came  to  Detroit  ten  years  ago,  an  unknown 
boy.  Its  people  adopted  me,  and  I  have  had  honors  beyond  my  deserts.  If,  by 
leading  this-  regiment  to  the  field,  I  can  repay  the  debt  of  gratitude  I  owe  them,  I 
welcome  the  opportunity.  I  shall  take  good  care  that  the  high  character  of  my  State 
sustains  no  injury,  and  my  battle  cry  shall  be  "Detroit,  and  Victory  !" 

FLAG   PRESENTATION. 

On  August  26,  the  regiment  assembled  on  the  Campus  Martius, 
at  5  o'clock  P.  M.  to  receive  a  beautiful  flag  donated  to  it  by  Messrs. 
F.  Buhl  &  Co.  It  was  presented  by  David  E.  Harbaugh,  who  said : 

Colonel  Morrow  —  Your  regiment  has  been  sooner  raised  than  any  other  that  has 
left  the  State.  Messrs.  F.  Buhl  &  Co.  request  me  to  present,  through  you,  to  the 
regiment  this  beautiful  banner.  It  is  the  gift  of  generous,  loyal  men  to  patriotic 
soldiers.  It  symbolizes  our  Union,  its  power,  grandeur  and  glory.  In  the  smoke  and 
din  of  battle,  may  its  beautiful  folds  ever  be  seen  till  victory  shall  bring  peace  to  our 
distracted  country. 

Colonel  Morrow,  taking  the  flag,  said: 

This  is  the  flag  of  the  United  States,  and  it  shall  never  be  any  other.  I  have  a 
check  from  a  citizen  of  Detroit  for  the  color-bearer,  Abel  G.  Peck,  of  Nankin,  and  a 
further  assurance  of  one  hundred  dollars  in  the  event  of  the  flag  not  being  lost  in 
battle, —  as  it  never  will  be.  [Cheers.] 


RAISING   THE    REGIMENT.  41 

Judge  J.  V.  Campbell  then  spoke  as  follows: 

Colonel  Morrow  —  The  people  of  this  old  county  feel  a  deep  interest  in  those 
under  your  command,  who  belong  to  their  own  households.  It  is  my  pleasant  duty  to 
offer  you  this  sword  from  those  who  will  renew  their  proof  of  confidence  when  you 
lead  them  in  battle.  Let  it  gleam  at  the  head  of  your  columns  until  there  is  no  longer 
an  enemy  to  meet  them. 

To  which  Colonel  Morrow  replied: 

I  thank  you  for  this  handsome  gift.  It  shall  never  be  used  except  in  defense  of 
my  country.  If  I  die  it  will  be  with  my  face  to  the  foe.  Once  more,  and  it  may  be 
the  last  time,  I  bid  you  adieu. 

It  was  truly  an  affecting  scene,  and  as  Colonel  Morrow  martially 
mounted  his  horse  and,  in  loud  voice,  gave  the  commands  that  moved 
his  regiment  away  to  Camp  Barns,  there  was  many  a  "God  bless  you" 
from  those  who  witnessed  the  interesting  event. 

MATERIAL   OF   OFFICERS   AND    MEN. 

With  very  few  exceptions,  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  had 
competent  and  brave  officers.  Colonel  Henry  A.  Morrow,  than 
whom  braver  man  never  drew  a  sword,  was  born  at  Warrenton, 
Virginia,  in  1829,  and  was  educated  at  Rittenhouse  Academy, 
Washington,  D.  C.  In  youth  he  became  a  page  in  the  United  States 
Senate  and  was  the  favorite  of  Senator  Lewis  Cass.  When  but 
seventeen  years  old,  he  became  a  volunteer  in  the  Maryland  and 
District  of  Columbia  regiment,  and  for  one  year  was  in  the  Mexican 
War,  participating  in  the  battle  of  Monterey  and  the  campaign 
against  Tampico.  In  1853,  upon  the  advice  of  Senator  Cass,  he 
resolved  to  make  Detroit  his  home.  Here  he  studied  law  and,  in 
1854,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  after  examination  before  the  supreme 
court.  For  two  terms  he  was  elected  city  recorder,  and  in  1857  was 
elected  the  first  judge  of  the  recorder's  court,  which  position  he  held 
when  he  raised  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Mark  Flanigan  was,  physically,  the  best 
developed  man  in  the  regiment,  being  six  feet  four  inches  tall,  and 
brave  as  a  cavalier.  In  1860,  he  became  sheriff  of  Wayne  county, 
which  lucrative  position  he  left  at  his  country's  call. 

The  field  roster  was  not  completed  when  the  regiment  left 
Detroit.  Colonel  Morrow  resolved  to  leave  the  Majority  vacant  until 
it  reached  the  front  and  there  make  a  selection  from  some  of  the  old 
regiments  for  that  position,  whose  military  experience  would  be 
valuable  to  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan.  Upon  its  arrival  at  Fort 
Lyon,  he  selected  Captain  Henry  W.  Nail,  of  the  Seventh  Michigan 
Infantry,  for  Major.  He  had  seen  a  year's  service  with  that  excellent 


42  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

regiment.  He  was  a  citizen  of  Detroit  and  brought  a  ripe  experience 
in  the  field  to  the  formative  period  of  the  Twenty-fourth. 

Adjutant  James  J.  Barns  was  a  Corporal  in  Company  F,  First 
Michigan  (three  months)  Infantry.  He  was  captured  at  Bull  Run, 
and  had  been  a  prisoner  till  July  6,  1862.  Quartermaster  Digby  V. 
Bell,  Jr.,  left  a  good  position  in  the  custom  house.  Surgeons  J.  H. 
Beech,  Charles  C.  Smith  and  Alexander  Collar  were  experienced 
practitioners.  Chaplain  William  C.  Way  was  a  member  of  Detroit 
Conference. 

Captain  Edwin  B.  Wight  was  a  graduate  of  Michigan  University. 
He  had  studied  law,  and  was  extensively  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business.  Captains  W.  G.  Vinton  and  Isaac  W.  Ingersoll  were  well 
established  builders,  and  left  a  thriving  business  to  raise  a  company 
each  for  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan.  Captain  C.  B.  Crosby  was  a 
merchant  at  Plymouth.  Captain  William  J.  Speed  had  just  finished  a 
term  as  city  attorney;  for  several  years  he  had  been  a  member  of  the 
Detroit  Light  Guard,  and  brought  good  knowledge  of  military  tactics 
to  the  regiment.  Captain  James  Cullen  was  a  contractor,  and  was 
zealous  in  raising  his  company.  Captain  William  A.  Owen  had  been 
admitted  to  the  bar,  but  was  in  business.  Captain  George  C.  Gordon 
was  a  recent  graduate  of  the  Universty  Law  School,  and  Captain 
W.  W.  Wight  was  a  Livonia  farmer. 

Captain  A.  M.  Edwards  had  been  a  student  for  two  years  in 
Michigan  University  and  was  a  sergeant  in  Company  K,  First 
Michigan  (3  mo.)  Infantry.  He  was  captured  at  Bull  Run,  July  21, 
1861,  and  was  held  a  prisoner  of  war  until  May  20,  1862.  During 
this  period  he  was  among  those  selected  as  hostages  for  the  captured 
privateers  of  the  enemy.  He  was  sent  to  Castle  Pinkney  and  thence 
to  Charleston  jail,  where  he  shared  lots  to  be  hanged  in  retribution 
for  the  first  privateer  whom  the  Federal  government  should  execute. 
After  an  imprisonment  of  ten  months  he  was  exchanged,  and 
recruited  a  company  for  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan. 

Lieutenant  Richard  S.  Dillon  was  in  the  iron  business;  Lieutenant 
Wm.  H.  Rexford  was  practicing  law;  Lieutenant  Charles  A.  Hoyt 
was  engaged  in  farming;  Lieutenant  John  M.  Farland  was  copying  in 
the  County  Clerk's  office;  Lieutenant  John  J.  Lennon  had  already 
served  at  the  front ;  Lieutenant  Ara  W.  Sprague  had  served  in  the 
Mexican  war;  Lieutenant  William  Hutchinson  was  in  the  service  of 
Captain  Owen,  in  the  butcher  business  ;  Lieutenant  John  C.  Merritt 
was  in  the  employ  of  the  Michigan  Central  R.  R.  Company ; 
Lieutenant  Walter  H.  Wallace  had  been  a  sergeant  in  Company  F, 


RAISING   THE    REGIMENT. 


43 


Second  Michigan  Infantry,  and  lost  an  eye  at  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks; 
Lieutenant  H.  Rees  Whiting  was  engaged  in  journalism  ;  Lieutenant 
Frederick  A.  Buhl  was  a  junior  in  Michigan  University;  Lieutenant 
W.  S.  Safford  was  a  farmer,  and  Lieutenant  C.  C.  Yemans  was  a 
member  of  the  Detroit  Conference;  Lieutenant  Malachi  J.  O'Donnell 
was  foreman  of  the  Free  Press  composing  rooms;  Lieutenant  Jacob 
M.  Howard,  Jr.,  was  a  son  of  United  States  Senator  Howard; 
Lieutenant  George  W.  Burchell  was  of  military  ancestry,  his 
grandfather  having  fought  at  Waterloo  ;  Lieutenant  Newell  Grace  left 
a  good  law  practice;  Lieutenant  J.  M.  Gordon  was  in  the  shoe  trade, 
and  Lieutenant  David  Birrell  was  in  the  drug  business. 

Such  honorable  mention  might  be  continued  through  the 
non-commissioned  officers  and  men.  In  the  ranks  were  physicians, 
ministers,  lawyers,  teachers,  surveyors,  students  of  Michigan  University 
and  every  college  in  the  State,  as  well  as  men  of  almost  every 
business  and  trade.  The  regiment  contained  the  best  blood  of  the 
county;  rich  men  and  poor  men;  sons  of  the  wealthy  and  sons  of 
the  laborer;  men  from  foreign  shores  and  isles  of  the  sea,  who  could 
but  imperfectly  understand  our  language,  but  would  help  us  fight  our 
battles  ;  men  with  gray  hairs,  far  above  exemption  limit,  and  beardless 
youths  of  tender  culture.  Some  had  already  shared  the  hardships  of 
the  field  in  the  earlier  stages  of  the  war.  A  full  list  of  all  the  original 
members  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  with  their  nativities,  ages; 
residences,  etc.,  will  be  found  in  appendix  A.  Its  perusal  will  prove 
interesting,  although  statistical,  to  other  readers  than  members  of  our 
regiment. 

NATIVITIES. 

AMERICAN    BORN. 

Detroit,    ..........         64 

Wayne  County,       .......     161 

Other  counties,     .......       117 

New  York,     .........     250 

Ohio 

New  Jersey, 

Vermont, 

Pennsylvania, 

Maine, 

Connecticut, 

New  Hampshire, 

Massachusetts 

Nine  other  States, 

Total,  ..........       700  Total  ...........     325 

Born  in  Michigan,  343;  in  other  States,  357;  in  foreign  lands,  325;  unknown,  5; 
total,  1,030. 
(4) 


FOREIGN    BORN. 

Germany, 100 

Ireland 85 

England, 55 


2Q 

Scotland                     .     .     . 

....       16 

T=; 

France,    

.     .     .     .           7 

14 

Switzerland 

....         6 

•     •     •           3 

8 

Wales                               .     . 

.       .       .       .            2 

7 

Sweden. 

2 

6 

4 

14 


44 


HISTORY   OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


NATIVITIES    BY   COMPANIES. 


\ 

A 

B 

c 

D 

E 

F 

0 

H 

I 

K 

Detroit       

15 

8 

I 

i 

O 

e 

18 

4 

^ 

Wayne  County,   .... 
Other  counties, 
New  York       

7 
13 
20 

3 
9 

22 

34 
5 
46 

35 
5 
20 

16 

9 
19 

22 

10 

17 

IQ 

3 
25 

24 

28 

8 
26 

30 
9 

•JO 

Other  States,      .... 
England,     

9 
i 

14 

9 

6 

2 

8 
8 

7 
6 

14 
I 

II 
9 

18 

5 

II 

q 

ii 
4 

Ireland  

6 

21 

I 

i 

37 

5 

3 

7 

•3 

Canada,       

7 

8 

4 

3 

7 

3 

3 

4 

c; 

5 

Germany,       

16 

6 

i 

18 

8 

15 

q 

15 

4. 

5 

Other  countries 

7 

A 

o 

T 

7 

8 

A 

•i 

Total,       

IOI 

IO4. 

IOO 

IO2 

io<; 

IOI 

103 

IOI 

IOI 

IOI 

Americans,    

64 

56 

Q2 

6q 

40 

6q 

7e 

7° 

77 

83 

Foreigners,      

37 

48 

8 

33 

65 

32 

28 

1i 

24 

18 

AGES    OF   THE    MEMBERS. 


Twenty  years  and  under, 
Between  20  and  25,   . 

25    "    30,      .     . 
30    "    35,    •     • 
35    "    40,      .     . 


312 

271 

193 

97 

78 


Between  40  and  50, 
Over  45  years,  .  . 
Unknown, 


50 
27 

2 


Total, 1030- 


AVERAGE  AGES  BY  COMPANIES. 

A — 24  years,     2      months.  F  —  28  years,  5  months. 

B  — 25      "       11^         "  G  — 23      "       5 

C  —  23      "         il/z         "  H — 24      "       o         " 

D  —  24      "         i  I  — 26      "       2         " 

E  —  26      "         4  "  K  —  25      "       4         " 


Average  age  of  members  of  the  regiment,  25  years,  3  months. 


RAISING   THE    REGIMENT. 


OCCUPATIONS   OF   ITS    MEMBERS. 


45 


Farmers, 

412 

Molders, 

Laborers, 

.     .     88 

Butchers, 

9 

Peddlers,     .     .     . 

5 

e 

Carpenters, 

62 

Machinists, 

.     .     8 

Doctors,    .     .     .     . 

£ 

Clerks, 

.      .     38 

Cigarmakers,    . 

7 

Sawyers 

Sailors,   . 
Blacksmiths, 

34 
•     25 

Engineers, 
Millers,     .... 

•    7 

7 

Teachers, 
Journalists 

•     •       5 

Printers, 

21 

Wagonmakers,    . 

.     7 

Preachers, 

•3 

Shoemakers, 
Painters,     .     .     . 

.     .     18 
17 

Book-keepers, 
Boilermakers, 

6 
.    6 

Coffinmaker,   . 
Other  trades 

I 

Masons,    . 
Coopers, 

•      •     14 

12 

Lawyers, 
Tailors, 

.       6 
6 

Unknown, 

.       .          10 

Tinsmiths,     . 
Teamsters, 

.       II 
IO 

Wheelwrights, 
Bakers,       . 

6 

c 

Total,      .     .     . 

1030 

Students, 

.       IO 

Brickmakers,    . 

5 

RESIDENCES   OF   MEMBERS   BY   TOWNS,    ETC. 


Detroit,        .     .     . 

.     428 

Springwells, 

•     J9 

Exeter  (Monroe  Co.)  . 

.       6 

Plymouth, 

•     •    77 

Huron,   .... 

18 

Clinton  Co., 

oe 

Redford,      .     .     . 

61 

Canton,     .... 

16 

^Vashtenaw  Co., 

JJ 
28 

Livonia,    . 

•    49 

Trenton, 

14 

Oakland,  Co.,      .     .     . 

10 

Brownstown.  .     . 

.       48 

Sumpter,  .... 

.     ii 

Other  Counties, 

.       12 

Nankin,    . 

•     •    4i 

Greenfield, 

9 

Unknown,        .... 

3 

Dearborn,  . 

•       35 

Hamtramrk, 

.       8 



Wyandotte,    . 

•     •     23 

Ecorse,   .... 

7 

Total  

1030 

Van  Buren,      .     . 

20 

Grosse  Pointe,  . 

•       4 

*  *J  J*-r 

Romulus, 

.     .     19 

Ash  (Monroe  Co.), 

.       29 

Summary  : 

Detroit, 

428;  Wayne  County 

townships,  479;  other  counties, 

120; 

unknown,  3.     Total,  1030. 

RESIDENCES   BY   COMPANIES. 

STAFF  —  Detroit  7,  townships  3,  other  counties  i.     Total  n. 

A  —  Detroit  58,  Brownstown  6,  other  townships  12,  Ash  in  Monroe  County  n, 
other  counties  14.  Total  101. 

B — Detroit  60,  Wyandotte  19,  Trenton  13,  townships  8,  outside  counties  4. 
Total  104. 

C  —  Plymouth  69,  Canton  7,  Livonia  9,  Nankin  6,  Salem  8,  Detroit  i.     Total  100. 

D  —  Detroit  27,  Dearborn  27,  Nankin  u,  Canton  8,  Romulus  10,  Van  Buren  9, 
other  towns  8,  other  counties  2.  Total  102. 

E  —  Detroit  87,  townships  13,  other  counties  5.     Total  105. 

F  —  Detroit  41,  Van  Buren  10,  Ecorse  7,  other  townships  23,  Washtenaw  County 
ii,  other  counties  9.  Total  101. 

G  —  Detroit  48,  Sumpter  10,  Brownstown  8,  Springwells  5,  Huron  5,  other 
towns  8,  Ash  15,  other  counties  4.  Total  103. 

H  —  Detroit  53,  Greenfield  5,  Livonia  5,  other  towns  13,  Clinton  County  17, 
other  counties  8.  Total  101. 

I — Redford  51,  Detroit  30,  Nankin  7,  other  towns  ii,  other  counties  2. 
Total  101. 

K  —  Livonia  31,  Brownstown  31,  Detroit  15,  Nankin  9,  Huron  9,  other  towns  6. 
Total  101. 


46  HISTORY   OK    THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

MISCELLANEOUS    FEATURES. 

The  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  might  have  been  called  a  regiment 
of  relatives,  as  135  of  its  members  had  brothers  in  it,  the  brothers 
being  most  frequently  in  the  same  companies.  Company  A  had  20 
brothers,  C  had  18,  D  had  20,  F  had  17,  G  had  14,  H  had  14  and  K 
had  17,  while  numerous  ones  had  brothers  in  other  companies  than 
their  own.  There  were  several  cases  of  father  and  son,  cousins, 
brothers-in-law,  etc.  Company  H.  had  a  father  and  two  sons  —  the 
Steele  family.  There  were  also  several  cases  of  three  brothers  of  one 
family  in  its  ranks. 

One  boy  was  discharged  by  "  habeas  corpus  "  before  the  regiment 
left  Detroit.  Three  men  were  not  mustered,  by  some  error.  One 
man  died  and  eleven  deserted  before  the  regiment  left  for  the  front. 
Company  C  was  the  youngest  in  average  age  and  F  the  oldest.  C  also 
contained  the  greatest  number  (62)  whose  ages  were  between  twenty 
and  thirty  years.  It  was  the  color  company,  one  of  its  corporals, 
Abel  G.  Peck,  being  the  first  color-bearer. 

The  first  man  to  enlist  in  the  regiment  was  Corporal  George  W. 
Chrouch  of  D,  on  July  19,  1862.  He  had  already  seen  service  in  the 
First  Michigan  (3  mo.)  Infantry,  and  was  wounded  at  Bull  Run.  He 
was  also  the  tallest  enlisted  man,  measuring  six  feet  three  inches. 
John  Renton  of  the  same  company  was  next  in  height,  being  one-half 
inch  shorter.  D  also  had  forty-eight  men  between  twenty  and 
twenty-five  years,  the  greatest  number  of  like  ages  in  any  company. 

Company  E  had  the  greatest  number  (14)  over  forty  years  old. 
In  average  age  G  was  next  to  the  youngest  company.  It  contained 
the  youngest  member  of  the  regiment,  Willie  Young,  barely  thirteen 
years  of  age,  who  served  as  drummer  through  the  war.  The  two 
youngest  in  the  ranks  who  carried  guns  were  Patrick  Cleary  and 
August  Lahser  of  Company  I.  Company  K  had  seventy-two  farmers, 
the  most  of  any;  also  the  oldest  man,  James  Nowlin,  who  was  seventy 
years  old.  It  also  contained  the  greatest  number  of  boys  (46)  who 
were  twenty  years  old  and  under.  Company  C  had  the  greatest 
number  of  American  born  (92),  and  Company  E  the  greatest  number 
(65)  of  foreign  born. 

DEPARTURE   FROM    HOME. 

As  the  day  of  departure  drew  near,  activity  increased  in  camp. 
Happy  he  who  obtained  a  furlough  to  visit  home  and  friends  once 


DEPARTURE  FOR  THE -WAR,   AUGUST  29,    1862. 


48  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN. 

more.  Familiar  faces  in  suits  of  blue  hastened  about.  Sad  the 
hearths  which  soon  will  have  vacant  chairs.  Up  yonder  shaded 
walk  move  two  affianced  hearts  vowing  eternal  fidelity  and  devotion 
"till  this  cruel  war  is  over."  Blue  forms  bend  over  sleeping  babes, 
whom  the  infant's  eyes  will  never  more  behold.  Mothers  press  sons 
to  their  hearts  again  and  again,  then  go  to  their  closets  to  pray. 
Fathers  grasp  tender  hands  they  so  often  have  led  in  younger  days, 
try  to  talk  in  old  familiar  tones,  and  with  a  "  God  bless  you,"  part 
with  their  sons  forever  ! 

Friday,  August  29,  1862,  dates  our  departure  for  the  front. 
Knapsacks  are  packed,  ranks  formed,  and  at  5  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
the  regiment  bade  farewell  to  Camp  Barns,  and  keeping  step  to  the 
grand  music  of  the  Union,  marched  down  Woodward  avenue,  thence 
up  Jefferson  avenue  to  greet  General  O.  B.  Wilcox,  just  returned  from 
Southern  captivity,  thence  to  the  Michigan  Central  wharf. 

From  many  hamlets  in  and  out  of  the  city  had  come  relatives 
and  friends  to  bid  a  last  adieu.  But  few  families  there  were  in  city  or 
county  that  had  not  some  friend  or  near  acquaintance  in  this 
regiment,  and  its  departure  drew  hard  upon  the  hearts  of  the  people. 
Thousands  and  thousands  crowded  the  sidewalks  and  streets.  Other 
thousands  viewed  from  the  housetops,  balconies  and  windows. 
Continuous  waves  of  flags  and  handkerchiefs,  and  cheer  after  cheer 
saluted  the  ranks  throughout  their  march.  Roman  emperor  never 
had  a  prouder  greeting  than  the  men  who,  with  flying  colors,  this 
day  marched  along 

"The  beautiful  streets  of  the  beautiful  town 
That  sits  by  the  inland  seas." 

Thousands  of  anxious  souls  strove  to  bid  good-bye,  "just  once 
more,"  by  embrace,  word,  or  glance  only,  to  departing  friends.  The 
lines  of  the  "May  Queen,"  bearing  Companies  A,  B,  C,  D  and  E,  and 
the  "Cleveland,"  bearing  Companies  F,  G,  H,  I  and  K,  are  cast  away, 
and  the  boats  slowly  leave  the  wharf  with  their  living  freights  of  blue. 
Ten  thousand  final  farewells  pass  between  shore  and  steamers,  amid 
cheers  and  wavings  of  handkerchiefs  and  hats.  The  immense  throng 
continued  to  gaze  upon  the  receding  vessels  till  they  are  lost  to  view, 
and  only  would  they  leave  the  wharf  when  the  boats  could  be  seen  no 
more.  Sadness  was  upon  pillows  in  many  Wayne  county  homes 
that  night. 


RAISING   THE   REGIMENT.  49 

(From  the  Detroit  Advertiser  and  Tribune.') 

They  have  gone,  the  pride  and  glory  of  our  homes,  the  loved  and  true, 
They  have  left  us  bowed  with  anguish,  filled  with  proud  rejoicing,  too; 
For  a  nobler  band  of  soldiers  never  passed  Virginia's  shore, 
Than  have  left  us  soon  to  struggle  with  brave  ones  gone  before. 

They  have  left  us,  bearing  with  them  hearts  that  never  quail  with  fear; 
Arms  that  only  grow  the  stronger  as  the  danger  draweth  near. 
Left  us?     Aye!     The  lonely  firesides  many  a  plaintive  story  tell, 
Waking  in  our  hearts  a  struggle,  which  we  vainly  strive  to  quell. 

Oh!     Defend  them,  God  of  battles,  swiftly  to  the  rescue  come; 
Hear  the  earnest  prayers  ascending  from  each  lonely,  stricken  home. 
Yet  the  still,  small  voice  replying,  bids  the  warring  tumult  cease, 
And  return  them  to  our  firesides,  crowned  with  liberty  and  peace.* 

OUR  JOURNEY  TO  THE  FRONT. 

After  a  night  of  rough  passage  on  Lake  Erie,  Cleveland  was 
reached  in  the  morning,  and  cars  taken  for  Pittsburg,  at  which  busy 
and  smoky  city  we  arrived  before  dark,  after  a  pleasant  journey 
through  Ohio.  Of  our  tarry  here,  the  Pittsburg  Gazette  said : 

The  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  arrived  in  this  city  Saturday  evening,  August  30. 
Its  soldiers  are  of  the  very  best  class  of  men,  stout,  hearty,  cheerful,  intelligent  and 
splendidly  equipped.  They  were  marched  to  the  city  hall,  where  a  sumptuous  repast 
awaited  them,  during  which  Colonel  Morrow  made  a  patriotic  address,  thanking  the 
committee  for  their  kindness,  and  assuring  them  that  when  this  war  is  over  and  the 
Pennsylvania  regiments  passed  through  Detroit  to  take  Canada,  their  kindness  would 
be  reciprocated.  He  read  dispatches  from  the  seat  of  war,  and  lusty  cheers  were  given 
for  Pittsburg  and  our  cause,  when  the  regiment  marched  to  the  Eastern  train. 

Long  will  our  tarry  here  be  remembered.  Nearly  every  man 
received  a  bouquet  and  a  "good-bye,  soldiers,"  from  the  Pittsburg 
girls,  who  seemed  to  fall  in  love  with  the  regiment  at  first  sight. 
Rings,  ambrotypes,  and  handkerchiefs  freely  exchanged  ownerships, 
andja  portion  of  the  regiment  was  in  a  fair  way  of  being  "captured," 
when  a  blast  from  the  iron  horse  ended  this  coquetry  of  an  hour,  and 
our  train  was  soon  speeding  for  the  Alleghanies  and  the  Jjlovely 
Juniata  Valley. 

At  9  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning,  our  train  arrived  at  Harrisburg, 
and  was  switched  off  for  Baltimore,  where  we  arrived  at  noon. 
Marching  to  the  Washington  depot,  five  regiments  were  ahead  of  us 
awaiting  transportation.  After  waiting  around  till  3  o'clock  Monday 


'Written  for  the  occasion  by  a  lady  of  Redford. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


RAISING   THE   REGIMENT.  51 

morning,  September  I,  part  of  the  time  in  a  drenching  rain,  we  were 
placed  in  cattle  cars  and  started  on  a  forty-mile  ride  for  Washington, 
but,  being  sidetracked  so  often  for  passing  trains,  it  was  noon  ere  that 
city  was  reached.  We  filed  into  some  barracks,  called  a  "Soldiers' 
Retreat,"  for  dinner,  but  a  single  company  could  have  eaten  the 
whole  spread  had  the  quality  of  the  food  admitted.  This  was  our 
first  experience  with  the  outrageous  army  contractor  who  received 
full  pay  for  food  that  would  insult  a  hog. 

Ranks  were  again  formed,  and  up  Pennsylvania  avenue  we 
marched,  thence  south  to  the  Long  Bridge  across  the  Potomac,  which 
leads  to  "Secessia."  Here  the  regiment  was  halted  for  some  time  to 
allow  a  long  train  of  ambulances  to  pass,  containing  wounded  from  the 
neighboring  battle-fields.  In  one  was  the  body  of  Colonel  Horace  S. 
Roberts,  of  Detroit,  which  produced  a  profound  sensation  in  the 
regiment.  The  sight  of  these  wounded  soldiers  caused  the  first 
emphatic  impression  of  the  work  we  had  enlisted  to  engage  in. 
Crossing  the  Long  Bridge  to  the  tune  of  "  Dixie,"  we  first  set  feet 
upon  rebellion  soil. 


SCENE    IN    PENNSYLVANIA   WHILE   GOING   TO   THE    FRONT. 


CHAPTER    III. 


FIRST  MONTHS  OF  ARMY  LIFE. 


ALEXANDRIA  —  FORT   LYON. 

PURSUING    our    march    into    Virginia    on    the    evening    of 
September  i,  we    reached  Alexandria,  the  quaint   old  town 
from  which,  in  colonial  days  over  a  century  before,  Braddock's 
troops  marched  for  the  field  of  his  fatal  defeat.     The  city  was 
a  hot-bed    of    secession.      Here  was  the   Marshal   House  where  the 
youthful  Ellsworth  and  Jackson,  his  murderer,  met  death  in  the  same 
moment.     Yonder   was   the    Slave    Pen    from  which    the  F.  F.  V's* 
shipped  their  surplus  human  chattels  to  the  slave  marts  of    the  far 
South.     But  its  barbarous  purposes  were  ended  forever. 

Marching  a  couple  of  miles  beyond  this  city,  we  climbed  to  the  top 
of  a  high  hill  crowned  by  Fort  Lyon,  named  in  honor  of  the  hero  of 
Wilson's  Creek.  Its  ponderous  guns  frowned  down  upon  the  secesh 
city  below.  It  was  now  past  sunset,  and  scarcely  had  the  crest  been 
reached  when  angry,  dark  clouds  hovered  low  over  our  heads,  soon 
bursting  into  one  of  Virginia's  severest  rain  storms,  which  lasted  till 
morning.  The  men  had  neither  tents  nor  shelter,  and  they  suffered 
greatly  from  the  cold  storm  —  a  most  severe  initiation  into  the 
hardships  of  soldier  life.  And  such  was  our  first  night  at  the  front. 
Colonel  Morrow  and  a  few  of  the  men  found  shelter  in  a  house  where 
General  Joseph  Hooker  was  stopping  for  the  night.  The  latter  had 
just  arrived  from  the  battlefields  near  by,  and  the  two  formed  an 
acquaintanceship  which  continued  through  later  experiences  in 
army  life. 

CAMP   MORROW  —  JADED   TROOPS. 

The  next  morning,  September  2d,  fires  were  built,  our  clothes 
dried  upon  our  backs,  and  from  our  haversacks  we  ate  our  first  meal 
in  "Dixie,"  as  the  South  was  called.  The  location  was  named  "Camp 
Morrow."  It  was  customary  to  name  regimental  camps  after  some 
member,  patron,  friend  or  dead  member  of  the  regiment.  At  two 


*  First  Families  of  Virginia, 

(52) 


FIRST   MONTHS   OF   ARMY   LIFE. 


53 


54  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

o'clock  marching  orders  came  but  no  start  was  made.  Ammunition 
was  distributed  and  that  night  we  slept  on  our  arms,  or  witii^ur  guns 
by  our  side,  as  the  enemy's  pickets  were  not  far  away. 

The  following  day  we  saw  the  jaded,  foot-sore  and  dusty 
fragments  of  the  once  magnificent  Army  of  the  Potomac,  pass  by  our 
camp,  to  within  the  fortifications  around  Washington.  For  seventeen 
days  had  these  decimated  regiments  been  fighting  and  retreating 
before  a  victorious  foe  —  men  who  had  fought  their  way  up  the 
Peninsula  to  within  sight  of  the  Richmond  spires,  slept  in  the  noxious 
swamps  of  the  Chickahominy,  and  even  among  festering  bodies  of 
unburied  dead  men  and  horses,  and  whom  we  had  come  to  re-enforce. 
Surely  the  authority  that  stopped  enlistments  the  spring  before,  most 
stupidly  miscalculated  the  necessities  of  the  hour  and  scope  of 
the  war. 

CAMP   WAYNE — FALSE   ALARM. 

t 

On  the  afternoon  of  September  4th,  we  marched  to  Camp  Wayne, 
about  four  miles  South  of  Fort  Lyon.  While  pitching  our  tents  all 
were  ordered  in  great  haste  into  line  of  battle.  It  proved  a  false 
alarm,  and  well  it  was  such,  for  some  amusing  and  clumsy  evolutions 
were  made,  this  being  our  first  maneuver  of  the  kind.  Retiring 
under  our  tents,  we  were  suddenly  awakened  again  at  midnight  by 
the  long  roll  and  shrill  voices  of  orderlies  to  "fall  in."  This  time 
the  movement  was  quickly  executed  and  without  confusion,  each  man 
being  able  by  some  private  identification  to  place  his  h^nd  upon  his 
own  gun  by  night  or  day.  It  proved  to  be  another  false  alarm,  but 
the  discipline  was  good.  The  regiment  was  now  on  the  extreme  left 
of  the  army,  guarding  Hooker's  division.  The  enemy's  lines  were  a 
mile  beyond. 

Camp  Wayne  was  finely  situated  in  the  woods.  It  was  the 
location  of  the  Michigan  brigade  the  winter  before,  and  then  called 
Camp  Michigan.  On  the  6th,  the  men  were  gladdened  by  the 
presence  of  John  J.  Bagley  and  several  Detroit  citizens.  Though 
but  a  week  from  home,  anybody,  or  even  a  dog,  from  Wayne 
county  was  welcome  in  camp. 

MOUNT  .VERNON  —  MARCHING  ORDERS. 

On  Sunday,  the  7th,  a  few  of  us  visited  Mount  Vernon,  about 
four  miles  away.  Our  guns  were  left  outside  the  enclosure,  as  no 
soldier  of  either  army  was  allowed  to  bear  arms  inside  the  hallowed 
grounds.  With  delight  we  stood  upon  the  stately  veranda,  passed 


FIRST   MONTHS    OF   ARMY    LIFE.  55 

along  the  graceful  walks  and  beneath  the  magnolia  tree  planted  by 
Washington's  hands.  We  visited  the  ancient  mansion,  going  from 
room  to  room.  Up  a  narrow  staircase  to  the  left  we  reach  the  room 
in  which  he  died,  where  still  stands  the  bedstead  on  which  he 
breathed  his  last.  The  shutter  of  the  window  was  adjusted  as  it  was 
to  allow  him  to  behold  his  last  sunset  view.  His  tomb  was  visited, 
and,  with  uncovered  head,  we  gazed  upon  the  mound  containing  his 
mortal  remains.  On  returning  to  camp,  we  passed  the  negro  quarters, 
where  dwelt  the  descendants  of  Washington's  slaves,  one  of  whom 
was  an  aged  servant  far  back  to  Washington  himself,  whom  he 
distinctly  remembered,  and  whose  word  there  was  no  reason  to  doubt. 
These  people  still  formed  the  working  force  of  the  plantation. 

Arrived  in  camp,  we  found  the  men  packing  up  under  marching 
orders,  and  at  9  o'clock  we  started  for  Leesburg,  taking  our  blankets 
only,  to  be  in  light  marching  order,  as  it  was  understood  that  we  were 
to  go  in  pursuit  of  Lee,  who  had  invaded  Maryland.  The  night  was 
moonlight  and  beautiful.  Passing  by  Camp  Morrow  and  again 
through  "secesh"  Alexandria,  we  bivouacked  at  2  o'clock,  two  miles 
from  the  Long  Bridge,  on  the  Potomac  bank,  and  in  the  morning 
(September  8)  moved  on  to  Washington.  By  some  mistake  at  the 
War  Office,  the  Seventeenth  Michigan  was  ordered  to  take  our  place 
for  Leesburg,  while  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  was  sent  across 
Anacostia  creek  to  Fort  Baker.  Thus,  the  histories  of  these  two 
regiments  were  interchanged. 

ARMY    LIFE   AT   CAMP   SHEARER. 

Our  new  location  was  called  "  Camp  Shearer."  It  was  healthy, 
well  drained,  and  there  was  good  spring  water  near  by.  It  was  soon 
adorned  with  pines  from  the  neighboring  woods,  a  retired  resort  from 
which  was  had  a  good  view  of  the  Capital  City,  over  the  tops  of 
trees  in  the  valley  between.  Only  the  boom  of  the  navy  yard  guns 
for  practice  disturbed  our  quiet.  Here  were  spent  three  of  the 
happiest  weeks  of  army  life,  and  Camp  Shearer  is  a  pleasant  memory 
to  this  day. 

The  first  death  in  the  regiment  since  it  left  home  was  that  of 
George  B.  Parsons,  of  Company  D,  who  died  in  the  ambulance  going 
thither  from  Camp  Wayne,  from  delirium  caused  by  fright  from  the 
sudden  call  to  arms  on  the  night  of  the  4th.  His  remains  were  sent 
home  at  the  expense  of  his  comrades. 

The  regiment  was  attached  to  General  Woodbury's  Engineer 
Brigade,  and  two  companies  were  detailed  each  day  to  chop  away  the 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


young  growth  of  pine  in  front  of  Fort  Baker  to  allow  a  better  range  of 
its  guns.  When  not  on  such  fatigue  duty,  the  men  were  engaged  in 
drill,  and  soon  '  became  skilled  in  the  evolutions  and  school  of  the 
soldier.  On  Sunday,  the  2ist,  the  regiment  was  inspected  by  General 
Woodbury  and  staff,  who  pronounced  it  "as  fine  a  body  of  men  as  he 
ever  saw."  But  he  probably  made  the  same  remark  to  every  regiment 
inspected  by  him. 

On  the  I4th  and  i/th  of  September,  the  booming  of  guns  was 
heard  forty  miles  distant,  at  the  South  Mountain  and  Antietam 
battle-fields,  and  we  wonder  how  long  ere  we,  too,  will  be  engaged. 

On  the  25th,  26th  and  27th,  the  regiment  was  drilled  in  sham 
fighting,  whi.ch  accustoms  the  men  to  the  sound  of  their  own  guns  in 
action.  On  the  first  day,  Peter  Euler,  of  G,  was  shot  in  the  leg.  On 
the  next  day,  a  man's  face  was  filled  with  powder.  On  the  third  day, 
a  soldier  shot  off  his  ramrod,  which  struck  Orderly  Sergeant  W.  R. 
Dodsley,  of  H.  These  accidents  terminated  this  manner  of  drill.  On 
the  last  day,  Governor  Blair  witnessed  the  sham  battle. 

And  thus  a  trio  of  weeks  passed  by,  ourselves  gladdened  with 
daily  mails,  a  good  place  to  sleep,  and  ample  and  wholesome  food ; 
our  evenings  gleeful  with  music,  dancing,  and  song,  while  the  prayer 
meetings  were  well  attended  by  such  as  found  interest  therein.  But 
September  29  brought  an  end  to  these  pastimes  by  orders  to  start 
next  morning  for  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

POPE'S   CAMPAIGN  —  DISASTER. 

Before  proceeding  further  with  our  story,  let  us  survey  the  army 
movements  since  we  left  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  at  Harrison's 

Landing  on  the  James  river  in 
the  early  days  of  July.  While 
this  army  was  on  the  Peninsula, 
three  other  commands  had  been 
formed:  (i)  McDowell's,  at 
Fredericksburg;  (2)  Banks',  in 
the  Shenandoah  Valley,  and  (3) 
Fremont's,  in  West  Virginia. 
These  were  united  under  General 
Pope,  who  issued  a  bombastic 
address,  the  pungency  of  which 
was  evidently  aimed  at  McClellan 
and  his  army.  His  satire  was 
not' calculated  to  foster  for  him 

MAP  OF  POPE'S  CAMPAIGN,   1862. 


FIRST   MONTHS   OF   ARMY    LIFE.  57 

the  respect  of  the  generals  of  that  army,  and  the  failures  that  soon 
followed  are  possibly  traceable  to  this  cause.  Meanwhile,  General 
Halleck  had  been  appointed  General-in-Chief  of  all  the  Union  armies. 

Pope  with  40,000  men  was  at  Culpepper,  McClellan  with  90,000 
men  was  on  the  James  river  below  Richmond,  and  Lee  with  a  large 
army  of  the  enemy  lay  virtually  between  the  two  Union  armies.  It 
was  deemed  advisable  at  the  War  Office  that  the  two  parts  of  the 
Union  army  be  united,  and  McClellan  was  ordered  to  withdraw  his 
army  by  water  for  this  purpose,  to  Alexandria.  Instead  of  obeying 
the  order  with  alacrity,  leaving  consequences  with  his  superiors 
he  protested  and  tried  to  defeat  it,  but  finally  obeyed  after 
some  delay. 

Meanwhile,  Lee  was  quick  to  perceive  his  opportunity.  Keeping 
a  portion  of  his  men  to  watch  McClellan,  he  sent  forward  Ewell  and 
Jackson  to  encounter  Banks'  corps  of  Pope's  army,  with  whom  he 
fought  a  battle  at  Cedar  Mountain  on  August  19.  So  soon  as 
McClellan  was  fairly  under  way  down  the  Peninsula  to  embark  for 
Alexandria,  Lee  went  with  the  rest  of  his  forces  in  pursuit  of  Pope, 
whom  he  hoped  to  defeat  ere  the  Union  forces  could  be  united. 

Pope  retired,  before  Lee's  overwhelming  forces,  behind  the 
Rappahannock,  hoping  to  hold  its  fords  until  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  could  come  to  his  aid.  While  thus  engaged,  "Stonewall" 
Jackson  crossed  higher  up,  and  by  forced  marches  got  in  the  rear  of 
Pope  at  Manassas  Junction  on  August  26,  completely  cutting  off  his 
railroad  communications  with  Washington.  Pope  sent  McDowell's 
corps  from  Fredericksburg  to  intercept  him.  As  McDowell,  with 
General  Rufus  King's  division  far  in  advance,  reached  the  Warrenton 
Pike  near  Gainesville,  on  August  28,  this  single  division  presented  its 
flank  to  Jackson's  corps  which  furiously  assailed  it.  Gibbon's  brigade 
was  the  first  to  encounter  their  murderous  fire  and  heroically  stood 
the  onset  till  King's  whole  division  could  get  into  line.  The  battle 
lasted  until  after  dark.  It  was  bloody.  At  midnight  the  division 
fell  back  to  Manassas  Junction,  tarrying  to  bury  their  dead  in  the 
darkness,  and  leaving  Jackson  to  unite  with  Longstreet. 

August  29  and  a  few  days  following  were  sad  ones  for  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  which  had  now  been  united  with  Pope's  under  the 
command  of  the  latter.  We  shall  not  trouble  our  readers  with  the 
maneuverings  of  our  army  during  that  time,  as  there  are  still  sharply 
disputed  points  about  them.  Our  army  seemed  to  be  defeated  by 
brigade  at  a  time.  Pope's  satire  of  six  weeks  before  was  apparently 
felt  yet  by  some  of  McClellan's  Generals  who  were  now  serving  under 


58  HISTORY   OF   THE    TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Pope  himself,  and  their  eagerness  for  his  success  may  not  have  been 
all  that  patriotic  duty  demanded.  One  General,  Fitz  John  Porter- 
is  credited  with  saying  that  "  Pope  ought  to  be  defeated."  While 
McClellan  even  wrote  a  letter  to  Lincoln,  suggesting  that  "  Pope  be 
left  to  get  out  of  his  scrape  the  best  he  could."  The  President  felt 
compelled  to  request  McClellan,  for  the  sake  of  the  army  and 
country,  to  urge  the  Generals  who  had  served  under  him,  to  drop 
personal  feelings  and  render  loyal  assistance  to  Pope,  which  he  did. 
Shame,  that  such  is  a  part  of  our  Country's  history,  when  want  of 
harmony  among  Generals  is  a  greater  element  of  defeat  than  the 
opposing  foe  !  In  one  day — August  29 — by  reason  of  such  quarreling> 
more  union  men  were  killed  and  wounded  than  during  either  the  entire 
Revolutionary  or  Mexican  Wars !  Non-commissioned  officers  could 
have  done  better. 

The  battles  of  Manassas  and  Chantilly  followed,  the  advantages 
being  with  the  enemy.  Halleck  now  ordered  the  remnant  of  this 
once  proud  army  within  the  defenses  of  Washington.  Gibbon's 
brigade  acted  as  rear  guard  and  an  eye  witness  thus  speaks  of  it : 

Gibbon's  brigade  covered  the  rear,  not  leaving  the  field  until  after  9  o'clock  at 
night,  showing  so  steady  a  line  that  the  enemy  made  no  attempt  to  molest  them. 

It  was  with  this  brigade  of  King's  division  that  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  was  afterwards  united.  This  decimated  army 
was  the  body  of  jaded  troops  that  passed  our  camp  at  Fort  Lyon. 

MARYLAND    INVASION — SOUTH    MOUNTAIN  —  ANTIETAM. 

Lee  was  too  wise  to  assail  the  defenses  of  Washington,  and 
resolved  "to  liberate  Maryland,"  ere  the  northern  levies  could  be 
made  available.  His  illusions  persuaded  him  that  his  army  could  be 
largely  recruited  in  that  State,  and  thither  he  directed  his  forces, 
but  met  with  no  such  welcome  as  he  expected.  His  ragged  and 
shoeless  soldiers  did  not  inspire  the  Marylanders,  and  but  few  joined 
his  standard. 

On  September  4th,  the  President  re-instated  McClellan  to  the 
command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  soon  after  went  in 
pursuit  of  Lee,  whom  he  found  on  Sunday,  September  14,  strongly 
posted  on  the  east  side  of  South  Mountain,  holding  Turner's,  Fox's 
and  Crampton's  Gaps.  What  is  known  as  the  National  Road  leads 
over  the  South  Mountain  at  Turner's  Gap.  This  main  road  was 
stormed  by  Gibbon's  brigade  at  half-past  five  in  the  afternoon,  and 
at  9  o'clock  at  night,  the  enemy  was  routed  and  had  to  vacate  the 
pass.  They  were  assisted  by  Battery  B,  Fourth  United  States 


FIRST    MONTHS    OF   ARMY   LIFE. 


59 


Artillery  which  was  attached  to  this  brigade.  At  Fox's  Gap,  a  mile 
south,  the  Seventeenth  Michigan  had  charged  in  the  forenoon  and 
won  lasting  fame. 

Lee  withdrew  to  the  south  side  of  the  Antietam,  a  deep  stream 
emptying  into  the  Potomac  six  miles  above  Harper's  Ferry.  On 
Wednesday,  the  i/th  of  September,  was  fought  on  the  banks  of  this 
stream,  the  bloodiest  battle  of  the  war,  considering  the  few  hours  that 
the  engagement  lasted.  This  battle  was  begun  by  the  advance  of 
Hooker's  corps,  and  Gibbon's  brigade  became  hotly  engaged,  opening 
the  battle,  dislodging  the  enemy  in  their  front  and  holding  their 
ground  like  a  mountain  or  wall  of  iron  until  relieved  by  fresh  troops. 
For  its  intrepidity  on  this  occasion  and  its  valorous  charge  in  carrying 
the  South  Mountain  pass  three  nights  before,  it  secured  from  General 


OUR  JOURNEY   THROUGH   MARYLAND   TO   JOIN  THE  ARMY   OF   THE   POTOMAC. 

McClellan  the  title  of  "Iron  Brigade,"  a  name  well  won  and  honorably 
borne  thereafter,  as  it  was  found,  when  the  war  closed,  to  have 
sustained,  in  proportion  to  its  numbers,  greater  losses  than  any  other 
brigade. 

On  September  1 8,  both  Lee  and  McClellan  agreed  to  an  armistice 
for  eight  hours  to  bury  their  dead  and  care  for  the  wounded.  But  Lee 
utilized  this  time,  in  violation  of  the  truce,  by  digging  trenches  for 
escape  through  the  sides  of  the  Chesapeake  &  Ohio  Canal,  and  that 
night,  escaped  unobserved,  with  his  army,  through  the  excavations 

QS) 


60  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

across  a  ford  of  the  Potomac  into  Virginia.  Lee's  violation  of  the 
terms  of  the  truce  was  prompted  by  his  same  traitorous  heart  which 
led  him  to  violate  his  sworn  oath  and  turn  traitor  to  the  country 
which  had  educated  him  gratuitously,  and  which  educational 
acquirements  he  was  now  employing  against  his  country. 

OUR   JOURNEY   TO    FREDERICK    CITY. 

After  receiving  marching  orders  on  September  29,  the  camp  was 
busy  with  preparations  for  removal.  Letters  were  hastily  written  and 
much  of  the  night  was  spent  in  making  ready  for  the  journey.  At  6 
o'clock  on  Tuesday  morning,  the  3Oth,  we  turned  our  backs  upon 
Camp  Shearer,  around  which  cluster  many  associations  of  interest,  and 
marched  away  to  the  Capital  City.  Transportation  not  being  in 
readiness,  we  proceeded  to  the  Capitol  grounds  where  we  remained  all 
day,  and  at  evening  entered  the  enclosure,  bivouacking  in  the  East 
Park,  under  the  shadow  of  the  Capitol  itself.  But  a  few  rods  away  on 
the  eastern  portico,  the  several  Presidents  of  this  great  republic  had 
taken  the  oath  of  office.  Indeed  we  are  now  on  classic  ground,  and 
beneath  the  foliage  of  stately  elms,  we  prepare  our  beds  for  sleep. 

Our  heart  was  stirred  with  deep  emotion  at  this  time.  These 
massive  walls  of  the  Nation's  council  chambers  were  lighted  from 
basement  to  unfinished  dome,  within  which,  on  cots  of  anguish  and 
pain,  lay  hundreds  of  our  country's  defenders,  brought  from  the  recent 
battle-fields  up  the  Potomac.  Yonder  stands  the  old  Capitol,  so 
resonant  in  days  agone  with  the  eloquence  and  teachings  of  the  early 
statesmen  of  the  Republic  —  now  a  prison  for  those  who  seek  to  take 
its  life.  Here  is  the  silent,  yet  eloquent,  statue  of  the  great 
Washington,  amid  armed  legions  gathered  to  defend  from  sacrilegious 
hands  the  Temple  of  Liberty  which  he  did  so  much  to  build.  These 
wounded,  and  the  daily  clangor  of  arms  and  martial  strains  about  the 
Nation's  capital,  attest  the  inexpiable  crime  of  that  hateful  treason 
which  has  filled  our  land  with  mourning.  But,  alas!  the  traitorous 
marplots  who  brought  on  this  awful  war  are  not  among  those  who  do 
the  fighting.  Not  they.  Far  better  should  they  have  been  blown  to 
perdition  ere  their  conduct  had  brought  about  the  terrible  sufferings 
of  those  who  have  to  fight. 

Our  reveries  and  dreams  were  brief,  for  at  I  o'clock  in  the 
morning  the  ringing  voice  of  Colonel  Morrow  awoke  us  from  our 
slumbers  with  "The  Twenty-fourth,  fall  in."  Once  more  aboard 
cattle  cars,  we  left  for  Frederick  City,  Maryland,  at  8  o'clock.  We 
welcomed  our  transition  from  the  hot  and  dusty  streets  of  the  city  to- 


FIRST   MONTHS   OF   ARMY*   LIFE. 


6l 


the  cool  hill  country  of  "Our  Maryland."  At  the  Relay  House  our 
railway  crosses  that  wonder  of  science  and  skill,  the  massive  viaduct, 
and  then,  with  an  abrupt  sweep  to  the  left,  under  the  precipitous  and 
overhanging  rocky  banks  of  the  Patapsco,  we  pass  on  up  the  valley  of 
that  meandering  stream  for  miles,  by  charming  waterfalls  and  scenes 
of  grandeur,  watching  this  beautiful,  diminishing  stream  until  it  is  lost 
in  the  summit  of  the  mountain. 

Descending  into  the  Monocacy  Valley,  the  landscape  scenery 
continues  sublime  amid  circles  of  hills  and  beautiful  farms.  With 
banners  and  waving  handkerchiefs,  we  are  cheered  on  our  journey. 
From  hewn-stone  mansions  and  humble  cottages  came  loyal  greetings 


as  we  passed  them  by.  One  old  man,  with  snow-white  head,  and 
grandchildren  by  his  side,  waved  the  old  flag  at  us  with  an  energy  that 
would  have  borne  him  to  the  field  had  his  years  permitted.  Now 
and  then  we  saw  motionless  hands  and  silent  lips,  but  they  were  few. 
No  more  the  slave  will  do  their  waiting — the  true  secret  of  their 
grumpy  sullenness  and  soured  mien.  It  did  our  hearts  good  to  see 
the  old  flag  waved  from  Maryland  farm-houses.  It  was  done  with  an 
expression  that  evinced  no  doubt  of  the  sincerity  of  their  loyalty  to 
the  Union  amid  secession  surroundings.  It  was  a  day  of  pleasure, 
and  at  midnight  we  left  the  cars  at  our  destination  to  make  ourselves 
comfortable  in  the  nearest  field. 


62  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

CAMP   CLARK. 

In  the  morning,  Thursday,  October  2,  a  good  tenting  field 
was  found  near  the  railroad,  which  was  named  "  Camp  Clark,"  after 
Dr.  E.  M.  Clark,  of  Detroit,  who  gratuitously  passed  upon  the  physical 
fitness  of  our  regiment  at  Camp  Barns.  Here,  the  regiment  was 
temporarily  placed  in  General  Paul's  brigade.  We  spent  a  few  days 
in  drilling  and  bathing,  and  washing  our  clothes  in  the  Monocacy. 

On  October  4,  President  Lincoln  passed  by  our  camp,  from  a  visit 
to  the  recent  and  neighboring  battle-fields.  He  stood  at  the  rear  of 
his  train,  bowing  to  us  as  it  slowly  moved  by.  His  head  was 
uncovered  and  he  looked  careworn  from  the  weighty  matters  upon  his 
mind.  We  gave  him  some  Michigan  cheers  as  the  train  moved 
slowly  by. 

The  following  day  being  Sunday,  some  of  us  visited  Frederick 
City,  near  by.  About  every  church  or  public  place  in  the  town  was 
filled  with  the  wounded  from  South  Mountain  and  Antietam  battles. 
This  is  quite  an  old  city  for  this  country,  its  market  house  being 
erected  in  1769.  Its  people  were  generally  loyal  to  the  Union  with 
some  exceptions.  Some  of  the  disloyal  dames  invited  the  Confederate 
officers  while  there,  to  their  homes,  but  the  lively  appearance  of  their 
beds  when  the  chivalry  had  gone,  made  them  regret  the  courtesy 
shown  their  secesh  friends. 

MARCH   TO    SHARPSBURG — BATTLEFIELD    SCENES. 

Monday,  October  6,  at  4  o'clock,  P.  M.,  we  started  by  the 
National  Road,  on  our  march  for  Sharpsburg,  Maryland.  Passing 
through  Frederick  City,  we  had  a  right  royal  greeting  from  the  people 
with  a  slight  mixture  of  the  secesh  frown.  About  five  miles  from  the 
city,  we  passed  over  the  Catoctin  Mountains  and  down  into  Middle- 
town  Valley,  turning,  at  night,  into  a  meadow  for  bivouac.  Next 
morning,  at  6  o'clock,  our  journey  was  resumed  through  Middletown 
Village.  The  soil  is  rich  and  cultivated  farms  may  be  seen  nestling  in 
the  woods  on  the  distant  mountain  tops.  A  little  west  of  the  village, 
the  Catoctin  stream  was  forded,  as  the  stone  bridge  over  it  had  been 
blown  up  by  the  retreating  foe,  at  the  beginning  of  the  battle  of 
Sunday,  September  14.  Thence  we  moved  up  to  the  crest  of  the 
South  Mountain  range  where  a  halt  of  six  hours  was  made  in  Turner's 
Gap. 

This  National  Road  dates  back  to  Colonial  days,  and  before  the 
age  of  railroads  it  formed  the  great  highway  between  the  East  and 


FIRST   MONTHS   OF   ARMY    LIFE.  63 

West.  It  was  a  broad,  macadamized  way,  and  wound  over  mountains 
and  hills  which  had  been  leveled  off  to  form  it.  Over  it,  the  produce 
came  from  the  West  and  many  a  statesman  found  this  a  route  by  stage 
to  the  Capital  City.  Over  it,  Braddock  marched  his  troops  to  defeat 
and  his  own  untimely  death. 

All  about  us  were  evidences  of  the  late  battle  —  shells  lying 
around,  trees  and  fences  cut  down.  Here,  Gibbon's  brigade  for  four 
hours  fought  its  way  till  into  moonlight  and  carried  the  ground  on 
which  we  have  halted.  Many  of  us  visited  the  scene  of  the  struggle. 


THE    "  TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN"''   MARCHING   THROUGH 
MIDDLETOWN,    MD.,   OCTOBER   7,    1862. 

The  main  fighting  occurred  at  Fox's  Gap  about  a  mile  south,  on  the 
farm  of  John  Wise,  where  the  old  road  from  Middletown  to 
Sharpsburg  crosses  the  mountain.  Mr.  Wise  was  present  to  give  us 
particulars  of  the  fighting.  His  log  house  was  pitted  with  bullets 
like  small  pox  scars.  In  that  barn,  two  Confederate  and  two  Union 
officers  fought  each  other  to  the  death.  Here  was  the  lane  between 

O 

two  stone  walls  in  which  was  concealed  Drayton's  South  Carolina 
brigade  on  that  Sunday  morning.  In  that  copse  of  wood  at  the  foot 
of  the  hill,  the  Seventeenth  Michigan  formed.  It  was  in  Michigan 
scarce  two  weeks  before.  Up,  across  the  open  field  it  charged,  right 
over  that  stonewall,  with  a  loss  of  twenty-eight  of  its  own  in  killed, 
while  the  dead  bodies  of  154  of  the  South  Carolina  brigade  were  left 
in  the  lane.  Of  the  latter,  fifty-nine  were  burned  in  Wise's  well  and 
the  balance  in  a  trench  in  his  garden.  Here  is  where  the  Seventeenth 
Michigan  won  its  title  as  the  "  Stonewall  Regiment,"  and  rightly  is 
it  entitled  to  its  fame. 


04  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

By  that  chestnut  tree  in  the  adjoining  field,  General  Reno  fell,  a 
victim  to  the  enemy's  sharpshooters.  Accoutrements,  canteens  and 
hats  with  the  terrible  bullet  holes  in  front,  were  scattered  around. 
Here  was  a  pile  of  knapsacks  marked  _/'  1st  S.  C."  Their  owners  lay 
in  yonder  garden.  These  scenes  were  food  for  serious  reflection. 
How  long  ere  we,  too,  would  be  actors  on  the  field  of  deadly  combat 


and  fill  soldiers'  graves?  At  5  o'clock  p.  m.  the  Regiment  marched 
on  to  Boonsborough ;  thence  three  miles  south  on  the  Keedysville 
road  and  bivouacked  for  the  night. 

Wednesday,  October  8 ;  on  the  march  at  7  o'clock.  Keedysville 
is  passed  and  we  move  on  over  a  portion  of  the  Antietam  battle 
ground,  over  the  historic  Burnside  bridge,  through  the  now  famous 
Sharpsburg  village,  and  on  a  mile  southeast  to  within  half  a  mile 
of  the  Potomac,  and  went  into  camp. 


FIRST   MONTHS   OF   ARMY    LIFE.  65 

CAMP   HARBAUGH. 

The  location  was  called  Camp  Harbaugh,  after  Wayne  County's 
Prosecuting  Attorney.  The  First,  Fourth  and  Sixteenth  Michigan 
were  camped  near  us.  Wood  and  water  were  not  easy  of  access. 
The  spires  of  Shepherdstown  peered  out  of  the  woods  across  the 
Potomac.  It  was  occupied  by  Confederates  who  picketed  the 
opposite  bank  of  the  river.  Near  us  were  the  excavations  through 
the  canal  banks  by  which  Lee  and  his  army  escaped  after  the  battle. 
Near  by  was  a  large  pile  of  unburied  amputated  limbs.  Every  barn, 
building  and  shed  about  us  was  filled  with  the  wounded  enemy  to 
the  number  of  several  hundred,  left  by  Lee  after  his  retreat.  Near 
to  our  camp  was  a  barn  filled  with  them,  many  of  whom  declared 
their  fixed  purpose  to  return  to  their  ranks  as  soon  as  paroled.  They 
expressed  an  undying  hatred  of  the  Union  and  were  willing  to  march 
and  fight,  though  shoeless  and  half-clad.  A  few  only  expressed 
contrition  and  a  desire  to  return  to  their  allegiance. 

THE    IRON   BRIGADE. 

Thursday,  October  9,  1862,  was  the  formal  date  of  our  admission 
to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  This  day  the  regiment  was  inspected 
by  General  Gibbon  of  the  "  Iron  Brigade,"  to  which  we  had  been 
assigned  by  General  McClellan.  The  latter  had  applied  to  the  War 
Office  for  some  Western  troops,  saying  that  he  wished  some 
Wisconsin  or  Indiana  men  for  a  Western  brigade.  If  he  could  not 
have  any  from  these  States,  he  would  take  one  from  Michigan.  The 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  was  sent  up,  and  assigned  to  General 
Gibbon's  command.  It  was  not  at  his  request,  and  he  received  us 
with  considerable  reluctance.  Our  regimental  inspection  over,  we 
were  drawn  up  in  front  of  the  rest  of  the  brigade,  whom  we  almost 
outnumbered.  Our  suits  were  new;  theirs  were  army-worn.  Our 
Colonel  extolled  our  qualities,  but  the  brigade  was  silent.  Not  a 
cheer.  A  pretty  cool  reception,  we  thought.  We  had  come  out  to 
reinforce  them,  and  supposed  they  would  be  glad  to  see  us.  Neither 
was  satisfied  with  the  other. 

The  brigade  was  a  good  one.  It  had  already  won  envious  fame 
at  dark  and  bloody  Gainesville,  carried  Turner's  Gap  in  the  South 
Mountain  range,  opened  the  battle  of  Antietam,  won  the  title  of 
"Iron  Brigade,"  and  had  a  right  to  know  before  accepting  our  full 
fellowship  if  we,  too,  had  the  mettle  to  sustain  the  honor  of  the 
brigade.  This  brigade  was  composed  of  the  Second,  Sixth  and 


66  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Seventh  Wisconsin,  and  Nineteenth  Indiana,  to  which,  now,  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  was  added.  It  was  the  Fourth  Brigade,  First 
Division  and  First  Army  Corps.  General  Gibbon  commanded  the 
brigade,  General  Doubleday  the  division,  and  General  Hooker  the 
corps.  At  this  time  the  corps  was  immediately  commanded  by 
General  John  F.  Reynolds  while  General  Hooker  was  recovering  from 
his  Antietam  wound.  We  were  truly  in  a  fighting  brigade,  a  fighting 
division  and  a  fighting  corps,  all  commanded  by  fighting  generals. 

DRILL. 

When  not  on  the  march  or  in  action,  drill,  drill,  drill,  is  the 
business  of  the  soldier.  It  is  tiresome,  but  necessary.  No  one  can  be 
a  good  soldier  without  it.  A  mistake  on  the  battle-field  in  not 
properly  giving  or  understanding  how  to  execute  a  command,  might 
cost  many  lives.  In  this  discipline  our  Colonel  is  determined  that 
the  Twenty-fourth  shall  rank  among  the  most  efficient  regiments  in 
the  service.  Hence  it  is  kept  on  battalion  drill  for  six  hours  each 
day,  and  in  the  quickstep  and  other  evolutions  of  the  soldier  school 
for  an  hour-and-a-half  each  day.  This  duty,  with  dress  parade  at 
5  o'clock,  quite  occupied  our  time. 

DRESS   PARADE. 

The  dress  parade  is  a  feature  of  army  life.  It  usually  occurs 
daily,  near  evening.  Each  company  is  expected  to  turn  out  in  full 
and  every  man  in  neat  appearance.  The  Orderly  or  First  Sergeants 
form  the  companies,  each  on  its  respective  ground.  The  men 
"  fall  in,"  which  consists  of  their  forming  a  line,  the  tallest  man  on 
the  right  and  so  on  down  the  line,  the  shortest  being  on  the  left. 
The  band  strikes  up  a  lively  tune  and  marches  to  the  parade  ground. 
Each  company  is  marched  out  by  its  commanding  officer,  and  all 
arranged  in  their  proper  places  in  battle  line. 

The  band  ceases  its  music;  the  Adjutant  orders  the  battalion  to 
present  arms,  and  each  gun  is  brought  to  a  perpendicular  before  the 
body.  Turning  and  saluting  the  commanding  officer  of  the  regiment 
who  stands  several  rods  in  front  of  the  regiment,  he  announces  to 
him  that  the  parade  is  formed.  The  Adjutant  then  marches  to  a 
position  behind  the  Colonel.  The  manual  of  arms  is  usually  gone 
through  with,  and  the  band  playing  a  lively  piece,  marches  at 
quick  step,  then  counter  marches  the  whole  length  of  the  line, 
returning  to  their  place  of  starting.  The  Adjutant  then  takes  a 


FIRST    MONTHS   OF   ARMY   LIFE.  6/ 

position  as  before  and  tells  the  orderlies  to  report  by  calling  them  to 
the  center  of  the  regiment.  Each  orderly  makes  a  report,  "all 
present  or  accounted  for."  They  then  outward  face  and  double  quick 
to  their  posts.  The  Adjutant  next  reads  any  orders  or  communications 
that  are  to  be  made  to  the  regiment,  when  the  line  officers  march 
from  their  respective  companies  to  the  center  of  the  regiment,  face 
the  Colonel,  and  in  line  all  come  forward,  keeping  step  to  the  music. 
They  halt  a  few  spaces  before  the  Colonel,  saluting  in  the  usual  way. 
The  Colonel  gives  any  instructions  he  has  for  them  and  dismisses 
them.  The  several  companies  are  marched  back  to  their  grounds 
and  break  ranks. 

THE  SOLDIER'S  HOUSE. 

The  regiment  was  supplied  with  "  French  shelter  tents."  A 
piece  of  drilling  six  feet  square,  (impervious  to  rain  unless  punctured 
by  pin  or  torn)  with  pieces  of  rope  fixed  to  each  corner,  is  allowed  to 
each  man.  Two  of  these  stretched  over  a  pole  upon  two  stakes,  and 
the  corners  stretched  out  and  fastened  to  the  ground  with  wooden 


BURNSIDE    BRIDGE   AT   AXTIETAM. 


pins  to  which  the  pieces  of  rope  are  tied,  with  a  third  piece  on  the 
gable,  form  a  shelter  for  three  soldiers.  In  camp,  these  tents  are 
arranged  in  rows,  and  three  or  four  hundred  of  them  in  a  regiment  or 
brigade,  form  quite  a  village  of  such  out  door  habitations,  When  on 
the  march  without  knapsacks,  this  piece  of  tent  is  rolled  up  with  the 
soldier's  blanket  and  the  ends  tied  in  horse-collar  shape.  It  is  then 


68  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

slung  over  one  shoulder  and  under  the  opposite  arm.  The  soldier  is 
now  in  light  marching  order,  with  his  haversack  for  his  food,  his 
canteen  for  water,  and  with  his  gun  and  accoutrements. 


BATTERY   B. 

Attached  to  the  Iron  Brigade  was  Battery  B,  Fourth  United  States 
Artillery,  popularly  known  as  "Gibbon's  Battery,"  after  our  brigade 
general.  It  was  in  the  Mexican  war  and  had  a  history.  It  is  said 
that  the  General  had  a  brother  in  the  insurgent  army  who  boasted  that 
he  would  capture  this  Battery  at  any  cost.  The  attempt  was  made 
here  at  Antietam,  the  foe  charging  up  to  the  very  muzzles  of  his  guns, 
and  were  knocked  down  by  the  artillerists  with  their  ramrods.  At 
this  critical  moment,  General  Gibbon  himself  sighted  some  of  the  guns 
which  were  double  shotted  with  grape  and  canister.  The  carnage  was 
terrible.  The  Battery  was  not  taken  but  lost  severely  in  men.  On 
Saturday,  October  11,  twenty  men  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan 
were  detailed  to  duty  in  this  Battery. 

ARMY   BALLOON  —  MARCHING   ORDERS,    ETC. 

In  a  ravine  near  our  camp  was  Professor  Lowe's  balloon  which 
made  several  ascensions  each  day,  to  note  the  dispositions  of  the 
enemy's  troops  over  the  river.  Strong  picket  guards  were  posted  on 
each  side  of  the  Potomac.  Soldiers  were  restricted  to  their  regimental 
lines,  under  penalty  of  being  sent  to  work  on  the  fortifications  at 
Harper's  Ferry. 

At  i  o'clock  Sunday  morning,  October  12,  our  commissariat  was 
aroused  to  prepare  two  days'  cooked  rations  at  once.  Orders  to  march 
were  momentarily  expected,  to  intercept  Stuart's  cavalry,  which  was 
making  a  complete  circuit  around  our  army.  But  ere  our  rations  were 
cooked,  they  had  recrossed  to  the  Virginia  shore,  and  were  climbing 
up  the  opposite  bank,  loaded  with  plunder,  just  as  our  cavalry  arrived 
at  the  river.  Our  camp,  which  was  agog  all  Sunday  over  this  affair, 
settled  down  to  duty  again. 

Now  that  we  are  in  the  field,  the  soft  bread  and  luxuries  that  we 
enjoyed  at  Camp  Shearer  have  given  place  to  hard  tack,  beef,  pork, 
coffee,  sugar  and  rice.  The  soldier's  ration  is  more  than  he  can 
ordinarily  eat  when  he  gets  it,  but  for  one  reason  and  another,  he 
scarcely  ever  gets  it.  Sometimes  the  fault  of  the  dishonest  contractor, 


FIRST   MONTHS   OF   ARMY   LIFE.  69 

frequently  the  delays  attending  the   circumstances  of  war  for  which 
no  one  can  be  blamed. 

INSPECTION  —  THE   BATTLE-FIELD  —  VISITORS. 

Thursday,  October  16,  at  2  o'clock,  our  regiment  was  again 
inspected  by  General  Gibbon,  who  is  a  thorough  soldier  by  education 
and  practice.  The  regiment  did  credit  to  itself  in  its  evolutions,  and 
officers  from  veteran  regiments  present  declared  that  no  other 
surpassed  us  for  our  limited  instruction.  Our  officers  were  marched  to 
the  center,  when  the  General  complimented  them  saying,  "The 
regiment  was  the  best  drilled  after  such  a  short  time  of  service  of  any 
he  had  ever  reviewed,"  an  encomium  of  which  we  all  felt  highly  proud. 

The  review  over,  about  500  of  the  regiment,  headed  by  Colonel 
Morrow,  visited  the  Antietam  battlefield  near  by.  No  pen  can 
describe  the  scenes  enacted  on  this  field  of  blood.  The  ground  was 
stamped  level  and  hard  by  troops  and  artillery.  The  dead  were 
buried,  some  singly  where  they  fell ;  others  in  trenches  and  heaps. 
On  one  stake  was  inscribed,  "Here  lie  150  bodies,  Ga.  and  S.  C." 
Many  were  insufficiently  buried,  and  here  and  there  was  seen  a  foot 
or  hand,  or  a  skull  protruding.  Lee  did  not  bury  many  of  his  men  at 
all,  when  granted  an  armistice  to  do  so,  but  in  violation  of  his 
agreement,  bent  all  his  energies  in  digging  a  way  for  escape  under  the 
canal  tow-path,  leaving  his  dead  for  our  forces  to  bury. 

Friday,  October  17,  marked  the  advent  to  camp  of  several  wives 
of  our  officers:  Mrs.  Flanigan,  Mrs.  Owen  and  Mrs.  Rexford,  also  Mrs. 
W.  Y.  Rumney,  wife  of  our  sutler.  They  received  a  hearty  welcome, 
and  the  regiment  was  again  under  woman's  refining  influences.  Their 
arrival  was  the  amusing  occasion  for  several  of  the  officers  that  night 
to  search  the  camp  for  new  quarters  to  sleep,  or  shiver  about  some 
campfire. 

CAMP   PENNIMAN. 

Monday,  October  20.  While  out  on  battalion  drill  this  morning  an 
order  came  to  march  in  fifteen  minutes,  which  caused  a  lively  double- 
quicking  for  camp.  Tents  were  struck,  rations  and  accoutrements 
packed,  and  the  men  in  line  by  the  required  time.  A  march  of  six 
miles  up  the  river,  through  Bakerville,  brought  us  to  a  fine,  healthy 
location  away  from  the  effluvia  of  the  Antietam  battle-ground,  and 
served  as  an  outpost  for  a  foray  of  the  enemy.  Our  new  abode  was 
named  "  Camp  Penniman,"  in  honor  of  Hon.  E.  J.  Penniman,  of 


70  HISTORY   OF   THE    TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Plymouth.  Three  days'  rations  were  ordered  to  be  kept  constantly  in 
our  haversacks  which  kept  us  in  moving  expectations.  The  soldiers 
know  not  when  or  where  they  are  to  go.  Rumors  are  afloat  about 
this,  that,  or  something  else,  but  scarcely  ever  do  the  men,  when  on 
the  march,  know  their  destination.  Regimental  inspection  was 
ordered  for  Friday  morning,  but  after  standing  in  line  all  day,  awaiting 
the  inspecting  officers,  we  proceeded  to  our  tents.  The  farce  seemed 
likely  to  be  repeated  the  next  day,  but  they  finally  came  and  the 
unpleasant  performance  was  ended  once  more. 


HURRAH   FOR   THE   UNION! 


CHAPTER  IV. 


MARCH  TO  THE  RAPPAHANNOCK. 


RAIN   STORM    MARCH  —  CAMP    MISERY. 

AMID     a    hard,     freezing    rainstorm    on    Sunday    afternoon, 
October  26,  we  were  ordered  to  strike  tents  and  march  in 
one  hour.     Our   blankets    and    tentstrips    were    rolled    into 
packs,  and  at  3  o'clock  we  moved  off  in  the  mud  and  slop, 
wet  and  cold.     We  marched  back  to  Bakerville,  thence  along  the  edge 
of   Antietam    battlefield,    by    Smoketown    Hospital   to    Keedysville ; 
thence  south  across  the  road  by  which  we  marched  to    Sharpsburg. 
Too  dark  to  march,  the  soldier  in  our  front  is  scarcely  seen.     Filing 
into  an    open  field,    we  bivouacked  for  the    night,    calling  the  place 
"  Camp  Misery."     It  was    on  a  sloping   field    without    grass,    and  in 
lying  down  anywhere,  one  soon  found  himself  wet  with  running  water 
from  the  hill  top.     Rails  were  soon  brought  from  the  nearest  fence, 
fires  built,  and  all  night  long  while  drying  one  side  of  our  bodies,  the 
other   was    getting    wet    from    the    drenching    rain.       And    thus    the 
miserable  night  was  passed.     [For  route  see  map  in  last  chapter.] 

CAMP   COMFORT — •  CAMP   HICKEY. 

Monday,  October  27,  morning  came,  cold,  but  the  storm  had 
ceased.  Hardtack  and  coffee  were  swallowed  in  a  biting,  cold  wind, 
and  we  were  again  in  line  for  the  march.  A  halt  was  made  for  two 
brigades  to  pass.  Ranks  were  broken  and  in  a  few  moments  scores 
of  fires  were  blazing  from  Maryland  fence  rails.  Our  clothes  were 
dried  and  we  moved  on  happy  again.  After  a  march  of  ten  miles 
over  the  Blue  Ridge  Mountains,  we  encamped  in  Pleasant  Valley  and 
called  the  place  "Camp  Comfort." 

Tuesday,  October  28,  eleven  o'clock,  found  us  on  the  road  again, 
passing  by  log  houses,  over  South  Mountain,  via  Crampton's  Gap, 
through  Birkettsville  and  Petersville,  halting  for  the  day  about  two 
miles  from  Berlin  on  the  Potomac.  Our  location  was  called  ''  Camp 
Hickey,"  after  Reverend  Manasseh  Hickey  of  Detroit  Conference. 
We  were  in  the  midst  of  marshalled  legions,  six  miles  below  Harper's 

(71) 


72  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Ferry,  waiting  our  turn  to  cross  on  the  pontoons  over  which  troops 
were  passing  day  and  night  into  Virginia.  Here  our  knapsacks 
arrived  from  Washington  and  we  welcomed  them  for  the  clothing 
they  contained.  An  opportunity  was  given  for  such  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  as  desired,  to  enlist  in  the  regular  army.  Colonel 
Morrow  feelingly  discouraged  the  idea,  giving  good  reasons  for  our 
remaining  a  "  Volunteer,"  a  name  full  of  glory  and  honor.  Not  a  man 
enlisted  from  our  regiment. 

BACK   IN   OLD    VIRGINIA  —  CAMP    HENNESSY. 

Thursday,  October  30.  Our  turn  to  cross  the  Potomac  will  come 
in  two  hours.  Our  sick  are  hastily  forwarded  to  Washington  by  rail. 
The  regiment  was  assembled  and  Chaplain  Way  invoked  the  guidance 
of  the  Lord  of  Hosts  as  we  should  move  on  in  the  holy  cause  of  our 
country's  rescue,  and  that  our  friends  in  far  away  Michigan  may  be 
permitted  to  welcome  us  to  hearth  and  home  when  our  task  is  done. 
Tents  were  struck,  knapsacks  slung  and  off  we  moved  for  the  Potomac 


CROSSING  POTOMAC  AT  BERLIN,    MD.,    ON  PONTOONS,   OCTOBER  30,    1862. 

which  was  crossed  to  the  tune  of  Yankee  Doodle.  This  day  our  lady 
visitors  left  us,  and  as  we  moved  up  the  Virginia  bank,  they  stood  on 
the  opposite  shore  of  the  river  waving  a  tearful  adieu. 

Winding  our  way  up  the  steep  Virginia  bank  of  the  Potomac,  we 
traversed  once  more  the  "sacred  soil,"  as  the  Virginians  boastingly 
termed  the  earth  of  that  State.  By  the  quickstep  we  made  good  time 


MARCH   TO   THE    RAPPAHANNOCK. 


73 


over  excellent  roads  for  about  eight  miles,  passing  through  Lovettsville 
and  about  9  o'clock,  encamped  in  a  field  sheltered  on  two  sides  by 
pine  woods.  Our  temporary  home  was  named  "Camp  Hennessy," 
after  Father  Hennessy,  of  Detroit.  Fires  were  built  with  Virginia 
rails,  coffee  made,  and  soon  we  slept  again  in  Secessia. 


CAMP   DUNCAN   STEWART  —  RAIDING. 

Friday,  October  31.  In  the  afternoon,  after  being  mustered  for 
pay,  we  moved  forward  a  couple  of  miles  and  pitched  our  tents  in 
an  orchard,  the  trees  of  which  were  loaded  with  the  fruitage  of  the 
season.  The  location  was  called  "Camp  Duncan  Stewart,"  after 
Detroit's  generous  citizen  whom  the  mob  was  going  to  hang  at  the 
war  meeting  on  the  Campus  Martius,  for  his  Unionism. 

The  camp  was  on  the  farm  of  a  man  who,  with  several  sons,  was 
in  the  enemy's  army.  This  fact  becoming  known  to  the  brigade, 

in  less  than  twenty 
minutes,  a  large  straw 
stack  was  carried  away 
by  the  armful  for  bed 
ding,  and  all  out-build 
ings  were  stripped  of 
vegetables  and  every 
thing  eatable,  turkeys 
and  chickens  included, 
unless  they  roosted 
high.  A  guard  soon 
ended  the  raiding  and 
the  plunder  was  ordered 
returned,  but  many  a 
fowl  with  its  neck 
wrung,  and  other  booty 
were  concealed  beneath 
the  men's  blankets  on 
which  they  were  "  resting "  after  their  two  mile  march,  when  the 
searching  detail  passed  around.  The  men  justified  their  conduct  on 
the  ground  that  we  were  in  a  secession  State,  and  that  it  was  no  worse 
than  the  enemy  treated  Union  men.  Right  or  wrong  it  was  one  of 
the  evils  that  Virginia  had  brought  upon  herself  when  she  left  the 
Union. 


RAIDING    A   STRAW   STACK. 


74  HISTORY  OF  THE  TWENTY-FOURTH  MICHIGAN. 

THE  SOLDIER'S  KNAPSACK. 

The  soldier's  knapsack  forms  an  important  part  of  his  outfit. 
To  him,  it  is  like  a  trunk  for  the  traveller,  except  he  lugs  it  on  his 
back  or  shoulders.  With  this  filled  with  winter  clothing,  and  with  his 
shelter  tent,  blanket,  three  days'  rations,  canteen,  belt,  gun  and  sixty 
rounds  of  cartridges,  each  soldier  has  a  load  of  burdensome  weight. 
At  the  several  halting  places  on  the  march,  many  articles  of  clothing, 
etc.,  were  thrown  away  to  lighten  their  burdens.  Then  each 
knapsack  frequently  contained  articles  presented  by  friends,  —  such  as 
bibles,  mirrors,  brushes,  and  home  souvenirs,  not  to  mention  half  a 
dozen  ambrotypes  of  as  many  of  the  "girls  they  left  behind  them." 
As  the  load,  in  weight  a  burden  to  a  mule,  is  borne  along  amid  the 
rays  of  a  southern  sun,  article  after  article  is  tossed  by  the  wayside, 
even  the  ambrotypes  of  all  but  the  soldier's  best  girl.  Carefully 
looking  at  each  one  of  these,  he  thought 

"  How  happy  he  could  be  with  either,  etc." 

But  as  all  these  dear  charmers  are  far  away,  he  resolves  no  longer  to 
make  his  back  a  traveling  daguerrean  gallery.  So,  selecting  out  the 
one  of  his  best  girl  to  keep,  he  says  good-bye  to  the  pictures  of  Miss 
Nettie  and  Miss  Susan  as  they  go  humming  down  among  the  rocks 
or  over  into  some  stream. 

MARCH   TO    PURCELLSVILLE  —  CAMP   TOWERS. 

Saturday,  November  i.  Breaking  camp  at  10  o'clock,  we  went 
twelve  miles  on  the  quickstep  to  Purcellsville,  in  Loudon  County.  It 
was  our  hardest  march  so  far,  excepting  our  rain  march  on  Sunday 
last.  We  bivouacked  in  a  fine  grove  of  oak  and  walnut  trees  and 
called  the  place  "  Camp  Towers."  Sunday  was  a  beau.tiful  day  which 
we  enjoyed  in  our  forest  home.  Colonel  Morrow  gave  the  men  some 
good  advice  how  to  act  in  battle,  and  Surgeon  Beech  instructed  us 
what  to  do  in  case  we  should  be  wounded,  to  prevent  a  loss  of  blood, 
saying  that  a  bayonet  could  be  run  through  a  man  almost  anywhere 
without  killing  him,  which  braced  up  somewhat  our  expectations  of 
human  life.  Some  cannonading  was  heard  towards  Snicker's  Gap, 
six  miles  away,  and  Company  F  was  sent  out  on  picket  duty.  During 
the  afternoon,  a  council  of  war  was  held  at  a  house  near  by.  Generals 
McClellan  and  Burnside  were  present  on  the  veranda  in  front,  where 
they  were  observed  by  many  for  half  an  hour.  We  were  ordered  to 
keep  under  arms,  but  had  a  good  night's  rest.  No  more  will  the  huge 


MARCH   TO   THE   RAPPAHANNOCK.  75 

baton  flourish  ahead  of  our  band  at  guardmount  and  dress  parade,  our 
fife  and  drum  majors  having  been  sent  home  this  day  as  unnecessary 
appendages. 

MARCHING  THROUGH  FAUQUIER  COUNTY. 

The  morning  of  Monday,  November  3,  found  us  in  marching 
array  again,  this  marching  being  a  part  of  the  soldier's  business.  We 
were  kept  standing  by  our  guns  until  noon,  when  we  marched  seven 
miles  with  but  one  halt,  to  Snickersville  at  the  foot  of  the  Blue 
Ridge,  halting  in  a  cornfield  for  bivouac. 

Tuesday,  November  4.  Another  march  of  six  or  seven  miles 
brought  us  a  mile  southeast  of  Bloomfield.  Lieutenant  Flanigan  led 
the  regiment  as  Colonel  Morrow  was  in  command  of  the  brigade. 
He  organized  his  brigade  staff  by  selecting  Lieutenant  D.  V.  Bell  for 
acting  assistant  Commissary,  and  Lieutenant  Whiting  as  Aide. 
General  Gibbon  was  in  command  of  a  division.  Scarcely  an 
ablebodied  man  was  seen  hereabouts.  The  women  were  saucy 
secessionists,  the  young  ladies  singing  secession  songs.  The  raiding 
of  flocks  and  poultry  continues.  The  old  regiments  are  more  expert, 
but  the  new  ones  soon  learn. 

On  the  5th,  the  regiment  moved  rapidly  about  fifteen  miles  to 
Piedmont  in  Fauquier  County,  on  the  Manassas  Gap  railroad,  the 
gap  being  seen  clearly  in  the  west.  The  roads  were  rough  and  rocky. 
We  encamped  near  McClellan's  headquarters  and  numerous  signal 
rockets  of  lurid  red,  white  and  blue,  were  sent  burning  through  the 
sky.  Company  D  was  sent  on  picket,  the  enemy's  pickets  being  in 
view,  as  disclosed  by  their  campfires. 

GUARDING   THE   WAGON   TRAIN — COLONEL   MORROW'S 
OLD   HOME. 

On  Thursday  the  6th,  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  was  detailed 
to  guard  the  wagon  train,  while  Colonel  Morrow  with  the  rest  of  the 
Iron  brigade  got  an  early  start  ahead.  The  corps  this  day  marched 
by  company  front  through  fields;  the  artillery,  baggage  and 
ammunition  trains  moving  in  the  road,  thus  guarded  against  an 
expected  raid.  Longstreet's  corps  of  the  enemy  was  at  Warrenton, 
our  destination,  but  it  moved  out  as  the  Iron  Brigade  came  in  at 
5  o'clock. 

'  This  is  the  town  in  which  Colonel  Morrow  was  born  and  sported 
in  early  boyhood.  Directly  facing  the  road  by  which  he  entered  the 
town  at  the  head  of  the  Iron  Brigade,  stood  the  house  in  which  he 

(6) 


76 


HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


spent  his  childhood  hours.  In  yonder  graveyard  his  mother  lies 
buried.  The  town  now  is  bitterly  disloyal.  Not  a  welcome  voice 
was  heard  nor  a  Union  flag  displayed.  All  houses  and  buildings  were 
closed  and  a  few  old  secession  flags  fluttered  in  the  northern  breeze. 
The  Iron  Brigade  moved  out  on  the  Sulphur  Springs  road  about  a 
mile  and  went  into  camp. 


WARRENTON,   VIRGINIA. 

TRIALS    OF   THE    MARCH  —  THE   DESERTED    HOME. 

All  day  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  plodded  along  for  eighteen 
miles  in  rear  of  the  wagon-train,  which  was  stretched  out  for  several 
miles,  halting  at  many  intervals  for  the  teams  to  get  out  of  some 
axle-deep  mire  hole.  Scarcely  would  one  wagon  get  pried  out  ere  the 
next  driver  would  get  his  wagon  stuck  in  the  same  place.  The 
enemy's  guerrillas  got  their  work  in  on  a  part  of  the  train  far  away 
from  the  Twenty-fourth,  and  destroyed  some  of  the  wagons. 

We  passed  through  White  Plains  village  early,  the  most  dismal 
and  forsaken  looking  town  we  ever  saw  —  not  a  human  soul,  nor 


MARCH   TO   THE   RAPPAHANNOCK.  77 

fence,  nor   house-shutter  to   be  seen.     Desolation   reigned    supreme, 
each  house  a  veritable  "Deserted  Mansion." 

"  No  figure  stirred  to  go  or  come, 
No  face  looked  forth  from  open  shut  or  casement; 

No  chimney  smoked;  there  was  no  sign  of  home, 
From  parapet  to  basement. 

No  dog  was  on  the  threshold,  great  or  small, 
No  pigeon  on  the  roof,  no  household  creature; 

No  cat  demurely  dozing  on  the  wall, 
Not  one  domestic  feature." 


CAMP  FLANIGAN — SHORT  RATIONS. 

It  was  midnight  ere  we  reached  Warrenton,  through  which  we 
passed  by  moonlight,  moving  on  to  a  position  near  our  brigade. 
Weary  and  footsore,  each  man  dropped  down  upon  the  ground  for  a 
little  rest,  but  awoke  in  the  morning  to  find  himself  covered  with 
snow.  We  were  in  a  thick  wood,  and  the  place  was  named  "  Camp 
Flanigan." 

During  our  tarry  here  the  regiment  experienced  its  first 
dearth  of  food,  being  two  days  without  bread  or  other  eatables. 
Colonel  Morrow  returned  to  us,  and  every  little  while  "hardtack"  was 
yelled  out  through  the  camp  in  impatient  tones.  For  some  reason 
our  supplies  were  not  up.  At  the  end  of  two  days  a  grist  mill  was 
seized,  our  millers  set  to  grinding,  and  rations  of  corn  meal  were 
provided.  This  was  cooked  into  mush,  hoe-cake,  and  in  other  ways, 
as  each  man  preferred.  It  continued  to  snow,  and  a  cold  wind,  with  a 
dearth  of  rations  and  smoky  tents,  rendered  this  a  most  disagreeable 
-camp. 

REMOVAL   OF   GENERAL    McCLELLAN. 

Monday,  November  10,  1862.  General  McClellan  having  been 
relieved  from  command  of  the  army,  took  his  farewell  leave  of  the 
troops  this  day.  Each  brigade  was  drawn  up  in  line  as  he  rode  by 
with  uncovered  head,  his  staff  following.  A  few  rods  behind  them 
rode  his  successor,  General  Burnside,  and  staff.  The  retiring  General 
was  cheered  by  his  old  troops.  Considerable  discussion,  in  field  and 
press,  followed  his  deposition.  There  had  not  been  entire  harmony 
between  him  and  the  President  and  War  Office,  for  many  months. 
He  had  one  plan  and  the  Washington  officials  seemed  to  have 
another,  at  almost  every  stage  of  the  war  thus  far.  Politics  entered 


HISTORY   OF   THE  TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN. 


MAJOR-GENERAL  GKORGE   B.    McCLELLAN. 

largely  into  the  debate,  and  as  our  regiment  had  served  under  him 
only  thirty  days,  it  seems  inappropriate  to  discuss  the  matter  in 
this  volume. 

He  issued  the  following  farewell  address: 

HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  ) 
CAMP  NEAR  RECTORTOWN,  VA.,  Nov.  7,  1862.    y 

Officers  and  Soldiers  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  : 

An  order  of  the  President  devolves  upon  Major-General  Burnside  the  command 
of  this  Army.  In  parting  from  you,  I  cannot  express  the  love  and  gratitude  I  bear  to. 
you.  As  an  army  you  have  grown  up  in  my  care.  In  you  I  have  never  found  doubt 
or  coldness.  The  battles  you  have  fought  under  my  command  will  probably  live  in 
our  Nation's  history.  The  glory  you  have  achieved  over  mutual  perils  and  fatigues, 
the  graves  of  our  comrades  fallen  in  battle  and  disease,  the  broken  forms  of  those 
whom  wounds  and  sickness  have  disabled,  the  strongest  associations  which  can  exist 
among  men,  unite  us  by  an  indissoluble  tie.  We  shall  ever  be  comrades  in  supporting 
the  Constitution  of  our  Country  and  the  Nationality  of  its  people. 

GEORGE  B.  McCLELLAN, 

Major-General  U.   S.  A. 

Some  inconsiderate  inferiors  importuned  him  to  ignore  the 
President's  order  of  removal  and  march  his  army  on  Washington.  All 
such  foolish  proposals  met  with  a  most  decisive  rebuke  in  the  above 
terse,  appropriate  and  patriotic  farewell,  which  can  but  command 
respect  from  friend  and  critic. 


MARCH  TO  THE  RAPPAHANNOCK.  79 


DRAWING  AND  COOKING  RATIONS. 

As  at  home,  so  in  the  army,  eating  is  an  essential  part  of  life.  In 
new  regiments,  it  is  customary  to  have  a  cook  for  each  company,  who 
with  an  assistant  is  detailed  to  prepare  food  for  the  men.  Several 
large  sized  camp  kettles  form  part  of  their  outfit  in  which  they  boil 
the  beef,  pork,  beans,  etc.  When  the  order  "  Fall  in  for  rations  "  is 
given,  the  men  form  in  line  with  their  tin  cups  and  tin  plates.  The 
freshly  cooked  food  is  frequently  all  given  out  before  some  at  the  end 
of  the  line  get  any  —  the  fault  of  the  stupid  miscalculations  of  the 
cook,  how  much  to  give  each  man,  or  of  the  selfish  "hog"  "who 
usually  manages  to  get  a  double  share.  Dissatisfaction  results  and 
the  company's  cook  dies  early.  His  history  like  his  epitaph  is  brief. 
He  is  fired  back  into  the  ranks  and  a  new  system  adopted. 

The  orderly  with  a  detail  goes  to  the  Regiment's  Quartermaster 
and  draws  the  company's  rations  of  beef,  pork,  sugar,  ground  coffee, 
rice,  etc.,  which  are  divided  up  in  a  more  even  way.  The  raw  beef  or 
pork  is  cut  into  pieces  about  the  size  of  a  tea  cup,  and  then  the  men 
gather  around  the  orderly  or  non-commissioned  officer  having  the 
distribution  in  charge,  like  chickens  around  a  hen,  and  as  each  man's 
name  is  called,  he  walks  up  and  gets  one  or  more  day's  rations,  which 
he  can  cook  to  suit  himself.  If  wasteful  of  his  rations,  he  alone 
suffers. 

Cooking  rations  is  another  feature  of  army  life.  Sometimes  the 
pork  is  fried  in  tin  plates,  sometimes,  like  the  beef,  a  slice  is  stuck  on 
the  end  of  a  ramrod  and  held  over  the  campfire,  a  hardtack  being 
usually  held  under  in  order  not  to  lose  any  of  the  grease  that  melts 
out  of  it.  Our  bread  is  of  cracker  shape  and  thickness,  about  four 
inches  square,  and  very  hard  —  hence  the  name  "hardtack."  The 
boxes  containing  it  frequently  were  marked  "  B.  C."  evidently  the 
manufacturer's  initials,  but  the  soldiers  insisted  that  it  stood  for 
"  Before  Christ,"  when  the  stuff  must  have  been  made. 

To  make  it  palatable  it  is  soaked  a  few  minutes  in  cold  water, 
which  leavens  it  to  a  pulp,  and  we  then  fry  it  on  our  tin  plates,  with 
a  slice  of  pork.  Hot  water  has  no  effect  on  the  hardtack  except  to 
make  it  tough  like  leather.  The  soldier  fills  his  tin  cup  two-thirds 
full  of  cold  water  and  puts  in  a  spoonful  of  ground  coffee.  The  cup 
is  set  over  some  coals  and  when  it  boils,  his  coffee  is  ready  to  drink. 
He  sugars  it,  but  as  to  milk  and  such  luxuries,  he  bade  farewell  to 
these  when  he  enlisted.  And  thus  his  meal  is  made,  sometimes  by  a 
little  fire  he  builds  himself;  at  other  times  with  his  tentmates. 


80  HISTORY   OF    THE    TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Occasionally  he  has  to  eat  his  pork  raw  as  there  is  no  chance  to  cook 
it  or  boil  his  coffee.  The  soldier  likes  nothing  better  than  his  coffee ; 
without  it  he  could  not  long  endure  field  life.  Only  at  times  in  camp 
are  the  large  kettles  brought  out  for  a  beef  soup  to  save  the  marrow 
and  meat  that  adhere  to  the  bones.  But  the  cooking  of  his  coffee 
and  food  is  often  attended  with  patience  —  frequently  without  it. 
Often  as  the  soldier  gets  his  coffee  nearly  boiled,  or  meat  and 
hardtack  nearly  cooked,  someone  passes  along  and  accidentally  gets 
his  foot  upon  the  protruding  end  of  the  rails  or  sticks  in  the  fire,  and 
away  goes  the  food  onto  the  ground. 

The  soldier's  menu  is  made  up  as  follows: 

BREAKFAST  —  Coffee,  Hardtack,  Pork. 

DINNER  —  Hardtack,  Pork,  Coffee. 

SUPPER — Pork,  Coffee,   Hardtack. 

An  occasional  beef  ration  takes  the  place  of  pork.  He  has  plenty 
of  sugar  and  salt.  Occasional  rations  of  rice  and  of  beans  are  issued, 
which  are  boiled  in  their  tin  coffee  cups. 

MARCHING    SOUTHWARD  —  CAMP   NALL  —  ARMY   PROFANITY. 

Tuesday,  November  11.  The  delayed  provision  trains  arrived  last 
night  and  this  afternoon  the  army  moved  on  southward  under  its  new 
commander.  Marching  back  to  Warrenton,  whose  citizens  viewed  us 
with  a  morose  and  dogged  sullenness,  we  continued  eight  miles  south 
to  Fayetteville  —  a  place  without  a  house — where  we  halted  for  several 
days,  calling  our  abode  "Camp  Nail." 

Monday,  November  17.  Amid  a  snow  and  rain  storm  last  night, 
we  were  ordered  to  fall  out  of  our  tents  to  draw  three  days'  rations, 
and  9  o'clock  this  morning  found  the  line  again  on  the  march. 
Crossing  the  Orange  &  Alexandria  Railroad  at  Bealton,  we  moved 
fifteen  miles,  and  the  next  day  ten  miles  further,  into  Stafford  county. 
On  the  igth  we  proceeded  a  mile  and  a  half  to  Potomac  Creek,  a  small 
stream,  but  bordered  by  very  steep  bluffs.  Up  the  winding  roadway 
the  artillery  and  wagons  were  dragged  by  the  weary  teams,  assisted  by 
the  soldiers. 

One  driver,  while  urging  his  team  up  the  hill,  indulged  in  gross 
blasphemy  and  was  overheard  by  our  Chaplain  giving  orders  to  the 
Deity  to  do  so  and  so.  The  good  Chaplain  believing  this  an  occasion 
for  the  exercise  of  his  duties,  mildly  asked  the  driver  if  he  knew  who 
it  was  that  he  was  addressing,  and  received  the  reply,  "  Don't 


MARCH    TO   THE   RAPPAHANNOCK.  8 1 

propound  any  of  your  -  -  conundrums  to  me  now."  Profanity 
prevailed  to  a  horrible  extent  in  the  army,  as  if  necessary  for 
emphasizing  speech.  The  absence  of  woman's  direct  influence 
probably  had  something  to  do  with  this  phase  of  army  life.  One  not 
accustomed  to  the  ungentlemanly  habit,  had  to  be  very  guarded  not 
to  indulge  in  it  himself,  so  general  was  the  practice. 


CAMP   BLAIR — WONDERFUL   COINCIDENCE. 

After  sleeping  all  night  in  a  drizzling  rain,  at  5  o'clock  of  the  2Oth, 
we  pushed  on  up  the  slippery  bank  and  through  the  red,  clayey  soil 
for  three  miles  to  Stafford  Court  House,  one  of  the  most  ancient  of 
the  Old  Dominion,  and  near  which  is  the  famous  Stafford  Hall,  where 
General  Robert  E.  Lee  was  born  and  reared. 

First  encamping  in  an  old  corn  field  we  soon  pulled  up  for  some 
woods  nearer  the  Iron  Brigade,  and  named  the  location  "Camp  Blair," 
after  Michigan's  war  governor.  Hardly  were  we  in  our  tents,  when 
a  cold,  severe  rainstorm  set  in  for  all  night.  Fires  could  only  be 
built  by  holding  blankets  over  the  fuel  until  the  heat  gained  strength 
over  the  hostile  elements.  But  neither  tents  nor  fire  were  sufficient 
to  protect  from  the  storm,  and  all  got  drenching  wet. 

Here  the  regiment  learned  of  its  second  man's  death  since  it  left 
home  —  Roswell  B.  Curtiss  of  Nankin,  Company  C,  who  died  at 
Harewood  Hospital  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  ten  days  after  leaving  the 
regiment  at  Berlin,  Maryland,  of  diphtheria  induced  by  exposure  on 
the  fatal  rain-march  of  Sunday,  October  26.  By  a  strange  coincidence, 
Corporal  O.  B.  Curtis  of  Company  D,  a  month  after  the  receipt  of 
this  news,  after  passing  through  the  terrible  tempest  of  battle,  was 
taken  wounded  to  Washington  and  placed  on  the  same  cot  on  which 
his  cousin,  the  above  comrade,  had  died.  Name  and  family 
resemblance  discovered  the  relationship  to  the  physician  and  nurse, 
from  whom  were  first  learned  the  full  particulars  of  his  death.  The 
Michigan  papers  confused  their  names,  and  the  confused  intelligence 
was  the  occasion  of  a  discourse  by  President  Tappan  on  the  latter,  in 
the  chapel  of  Michigan  University,  which  institution  he  had  left  for 
the  war  a  few  months  before.  Great  was  the  surprise  of  Dr.  Tappan, 
some  months  later,  during  the  chapel  exercises,  as  the  supposed  dead 
student  soldier  walked  up  the  aisle  to  a  seat,  amid  the  stamping  of  his 
classmates. 


82 


HISTORY  OF   TrfE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


MARCH   TO    THE   RAPPAHANNOCK.  83 

CAMPS   WARD   AND    CHANDLER — GUARDING   RAILROAD. 

On  Saturday  afternoon,  the  22d,  the  regiment  marched  seven 
miles  and  halted  for  three  days  at  "Camp  E.  B.  Ward,"  named  after 
the  Detroit  citizen  whom  the  mob  of  July  15  was  going  to  hang  on 
the  Campus  Martius  for  his  Union  sentiments.  At  this  camp  Captain 
William  J.  Speed  was  appointed  Division  Judge  Advocate;  Captain 
C.  B.  Crosby  was  seriously  ill  but  loth  to  go  home  so  long  as  he  could 
do  duty;  General  Meredith,  late  Colonel  of  the  Nineteenth  Indiana, 
had  been  assigned  to  command  the  "  Iron  Brigade,"  and  Lieutenant 
J.  M.  Howard,  Jr.,  was  promoted  to  Aide  on  his  staff. 

Tuesday,  November  25.  The  regiment  was  this  day  assigned  to 
guarding  about  ten  miles  of  the  railroad  from  near  Acquia  Creek  on 
the  Potomac  towards  Falmouth  on  the  Rappahannock,  opposite 
Fredericksburg,  with  headquarters  at  Brooks'  Station,  about  five  miles 
from  the  Potomac.  The  location  was  upon  Accaceek  Creek,  the  old 
Indian  names  still  prevailing  in  Virginia,  and  was  called  ''Camp 
Chandler,"  after  Michigan's  great  war  senator.  The  companies 
guarded  their  respective  sections  of  track,  Company  A  being  nearest 
to  Acquia  Creek,  and  each  company  in  order  as  it  appears  on  parade, 
the  march,  or  in  line  of  battle,  which  is  as  follows  as  to  letter  and 
number: 

A,         F,         D,         I,         C,         H,         E,         K,         G,          B. 

!>         6.          4.         9.          3,  8,         5,         10,          7,  2. 

For  the  next  eleven  days  each  company  enjoyed  camp  life  by 
itself  and  the  men  wondered  if  it  was  to  be  a  permanent  arrangement 
for  the  winter,  as  timber  and  good  water  were  abundant.  The 
locomotive  "Government"  had  been  brought  down  from  Washington 
by  boat  and  hauled  trains  of  supplies  to  the  legions  of  Union  soldiers 
marshalled  along  the  Rappahannock.  Thanksgiving  Day  passed 
with  the  usual  camp  duties,  but  none  of  the  good  things  the  day 
brings  at  home. 

SAD    EXPERIENCE   AT   BROOKS'    STATION. 

On  Friday,  December  5th,  the  companies  were  relieved  from 
duty  on  the  railroad,  gave  up  the  huts  and  encampment  houses  they 
had  built,  to  the  relieving  command,  and  assembled  at  Brooks' 
Station.  The  clouds  poured  down  a  heavy  rain  which  changed  to  a 
freezing  snow  storm,  the  wind  whistled  shrilly  over  the  hills  in 
northern  winter  style.  Every  tree  and  twig  was  covered  with  ice, 


84  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

and  much  discomfort  prevailed.  The  tent  hospital  was  filled  with 
pneumonia  patients.  It  was  hard  thus  to  be  sick  in  a  field  tent  with 
none  but  men  for  nurses,  and  lying  on  a  hard  board  or  the  ground. 
Colonel  Morrow  passed  from  one  to  another  of  the  sick,  cheering 
them  with  hopeful  words.  Efforts  were  made  in  vain  by  Colonel  and 
Surgeons  to  secure  a  house  for  the  sick  until  an  application  was  made 
to  General  Meade,  who  was  formerly  connected  with  the  "  Lake 
Coast  Survey"  at  Detroit,  and  acquainted  with  Colonel  Morrow.  He 
immediately  dispersed  a  Court  Martial  and  placed  the  building  in  the 
hands  of  our  Surgeons,  who  removed  our  sick  thereto. 

To  the  credit  of  Michigan  soldiers,  our  regiment  had  thus  far 
borne  up  bravely.  But  our  days  of  trial  as  to  disease  and  death  were 
with  us  at  Brooks'  Station.  That  row  of  graves  on  yonder  knoll  told 
the  sad  story  of  our  hardships  here.  The  frozen  earth  that  fell  on 
their  rough  coffin-lids  struck  a  pang  to  the  hearts  of  loved  ones  in  far 
away  Michigan.  Each  was  buried  with  appropriate  religious  and 
military  customs,  and  their  graves  distinctly  marked  and  enclosed. 
One  boy  was  but  seventeen  years  old.  Sad  indeed  that  one  so  young 
should  have  to  die  from  hardship  so  far  away  from  home  and  friends. 
Reader,  if  you  have  boys  of  that  age,  ask  yourself  how  you  would 
like  to  see  them  bear  the  burdens  of  soldier  life  far  away  from  your 
fireside  — to  die  from  exposure  and  homesickness — and  you  begin  to 
measure  the  hardships  of  war. 

At  the  firing  of  one  funeral  salute,  a  ball  cartridge  had  been 
carelessly  put  into  a  gun,  and  Abraham  Hoffman  of  Company  H,  was 
shot  from  shoulder  to  shoulder. 

Captain  C.  B.  Crosby  having  resigned,  started  for  home  from  this 
camp.  Left  sick  at  Detroit  when  the  regiment  took  its  departure,  he 
rejoined  it  too  soon.  He  made  the  fatiguing  marches  of  the  past  two- 
months  when  not  fit  to  be  in  the  field,  and  to  save  his  life,  the 
Surgeons  insisted  that  he  should  resign,  which  he  reluctantly  did. 

BURIAL   PARTY   WAIT   FOR   A   SOLDIER   TO   DIE— 7  MARCH 
TO    THE    FRONT. 

On  December  8,  ex-Justice  James  Nowlin,  of  Romulus,  of 
Company  K,  died  of  homesickness  and  general  debility.  He  was  "jo 
years  old  but  at  his  enlistment  represented  himself  as  43  only.  The 
regiment  was  under  marching  orders  and  Assistant  Surgeon  Collar 
told  Quartermaster  Bell  that  a  coffin  would  be  needed  for  Nowlin. 
Supposing  the  man  was  dead,  his  coffin  was  procured  by  the  Quarter 
master,  and  Lieutenant  C.  C.  Yemans,  with  the  Chaplain  and  burial 


MARCH   TO   THE   RAPPAHANNOCK.  85 

party,  arrived  with  it  at  the  hospital  at  9  o'clock  at  night,  to  bury  him. 
His  grave  had  been  dug  and  all  preparations  made  for  a  funeral  — 
except  the  corpse.  To  the  astonishment  of  the  burial  party  they 
found  the  man  still  alive.  At  the  end  of  two  hours  his  spirit  had 
taken  its  flight  and  the  old  man  was  buried  at  midnight  with  the  usual 
honors  of  war. 

Soon  after  midnight  on  Tuesday  morning,  December  9,  the 
regiment  marched  away  from  Brooks'  Station  to  within  five  miles  of 
the  Rappahannock  and  on  the  loth  moved  two  miles  nearer  and 
awaited  orders  to  move  forward  into  the  impending  battle. 


THE  PERSIMMON  TREE. 


CHAPTER  V. 


BATTLE  OF  FREDERICKSBURG. 


THE     SITUATION  —  HEROIC    CHARGE     OF     THE    SEVENTH     MICHIGAN 

INFANTRY. 

UPON  assuming  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
General  Burnside  re-organized  it  into  three  grand  divisions. 
General  Sumner  commanded  the  right  (Second  and  Ninth 
Corps);  General  Franklin  commanded  the  left  (Twelfth  and 
Sixth  Corps);  and  General  Hooker  the  center  (Third  and  Fifth 
Corps).  The  Eleventh  Corps  under  General  Sigel  was  on  the  reserve. 

At  this  time,  one  part  of  the  Confederate  army  was  at  Culpepper, 
and  the  other  part  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  Instead  of  interposing 
between  these  divided  forces,  Burnside  started  his  army  for  Falmouth, 
nearly  opposite  Fredericksburg.  When  Lee  discovered  this 
movement,  he  united  his  forces  at  Fredericksburg.  Before  the 
pontoons  arrived  for  Burnside  to  cross  the  river,  Lee  arranged  his 
army  along  the  hills  in  the  rear  of  the  city  and  strongly  fortified  the 
heights  with  earthworks. 

On  both  sides  of  the  Rappahannock  at  this  place,  run  well 
defined  crests  of  hills.  The  northern  are  known  as  Stafford  Heights, 
and  are  close  to  the  river's  margin.  The  southern  are  about  a 
mile,  more  or  less,  back  from  the  stream.  The  strongest  position 
of  this  range  is  Marye's*  Height,  directly  back  of  the  city. 
Near  its  base  is  a  sunken  road,  also  a  stone  wall.  Both  the  Height 
and  the  adjacent  hills  were  defended  with  ranges  of  artillery. 

The  pontoons  arrived  after  much  delay.  On  the  night  of 
December  10  they  were  conveyed  to  the  river  bank  and  149  pieces  of 
Union  artillery  placed  along  Stafford  Heights.  The  laying  of  the 
pontoons  was  begun  early  on  the  morning  of  the  nth.  When 
discovered  by  the  enemy,  a  deadly  fire  of  musketry  from  rifle  pits  and 
houses  opposite  compelled  the  workmen  to  stop.  The  Federal 
batteries  bombarded  the  city  and  fired  it  in  several  places.  The  bridge 

(86) 


*  Pronounced  Maree's 


BATTLE   OF   FREDERICKSBURG.  8/ 

building  was  renewed  several  times,  but  each  time  without  success, 
the  enemy's  bullets  being  too  deadly  for  the  pontooneers.  The  Union 
artillerists  could  not  depress  their  guns  so  as  to  reach  the  rifle  pits. 
Burnside  resolved  to  send  over  a  storming  party,  in  boats,  to  disperse 
the  enemy's  riflemen. 

Colonel  N.  J.  Hall  volunteered  to  attempt  the  heroic  deed,  saying 
that  he  had  a  Michigan  regiment  that  would  perform  the  task.  Five 
minutes  later  away  dashed  the  gallant  Seventh  Michigan  Infantry 
down  the  river  bank.  Jumping  into  the  boats,  they  pulled  for  the 


MAJOR-GENERAL  AMBROSE  K.  BURNSIDE. 


opposite  shore  —  a  heroic  act  that  brought  cheers  from  the  other 
soldiers,  and  waving  of  handkerchiefs  from  some  lady  spectators  on 
the  bluff.  Volleys  from  the  enemy's  rifle  pits  produced  their  deadly 
work.  The  Union  guns  on  the  Heights  played  upon  the  houses  in 
front,  and  the  occasion  became  intensely  grand.  A  landing  was 
effected  and  up  the  bank  swept  that  heroic  band,  capturing  as  many 
prisoners  as  the  storming  party  numbered.  And  thus  in  twenty 
minutes  a  handful  of  Michigan  men,  by  a  dash  of  bravery, 
accomplished  what  ten  hours  and  tons  of  artillery  metal  had  failed  to 
do.  This  gallant  deed  added  new  honor  to  the  already  lustrous  record, 
of  Michigan  troops. 


88  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

"Dark  rolled  the  Rappahannock's  flood, 

Michigan,  my  Michigan. 
The  tide  was  crimsoned  with  thy  blood, 

Michigan,  my  Michigan. 
Although  for  us  the  day  was  lost, 
Yet  it  shall  be  our  proudest  boast, 
At  Fredericksburg  our  Seventh  crossed, 

Michigan,  my  Michigan. 

After  the  Seventh  Michigan  had  crossed,  the  boats  were  rowed 
back  across  the  river  to  bring  over  the  Ninteenth  and  Twentieth 
Massachusetts.  The  bridges  were  soon  completed  and  a  division 
passed  over  and  occupied  the  town  that  night. 

ON   THE   LEFT  —  MARCHING   TO   THE   FIELD  —  TAKING 

POSITIONS. 

The  two  bridges  for  Franklin's  grand  division  to  cross,  about  a 
mile  and  a  half  below  the  city,  were  not  completed  till  one  o'clock  on 
Thursday  the  nth.  Some  resistance  was  offered,  but  a  few  charges 
of  canister  caused  the  enemy  to  flee.  Franklin  sent  a  few  troops 
over  in  the  afternoon,  but  recalled  them  until  the  bridge  opposite 
the  City  was  laid. 

The  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  arrived  at  the  river  with  the  Iron 
Brigade  (General  Meredith  in  command),  on  Thursday,  December  nth. 
While  listening  to  the  roar  of  the  Union  guns  farther. up  the  river,  the 
paymaster  arrived  and  paid  the  regiment  the  ever  welcome  two 
months'  pay.  Many  entrusted  their  pay  and  allotment  checks  to 
Chaplain  Way,  to  be  forwarded  to  their  friends  at  home.  Some  sent 
their  last  pay  and  wrote  their  last  letters  on  that  day.  The  regiment 
bivouacked  for  the  night  near  the  bridges. 

Early  on  Friday  morning,  the  I2th,  the  bugles  sounded  and 
drums  beat,  hardtack  and  pork  being  eaten,  and  hot  coffee  drank  so 
hastily  as  to  burn  the  throats  of  many.  Ranks  were  formed  and  all 
made  ready  to  move  at  command.  The  regiment  moved  to  the  right 
of  the  Iron  Brigade,  and  closed  column  by  division  (two  companies  in 
a  regimental  division)  on  first  division,  where  Colonel  Morrow  gave 
the  men  some  good  advice  as  to  their  behavior  in  the  impending 
battle.  He  said  Wayne  County  expected  every  man  to  do  his  duty — 
but  his  speech  was  cut  short  by  one  of  General  Meredith's  Aides 
ordering  him  to  move  his  regiment  out  at  once.  It  was  about  noon 
when  the  Iron  Brigade  crossed  the  lower  of  the  two  bridges  known  as 


BATTLE  OF   FREUERICKSBURG. 


89 


Franklin's  Crossing,  and  marched  down  the  river  about  a  mile,  halting 
to  allow  some  troops  in  front  to  maneuver  into  position.  The  long 
range  of  hills  on  which  were  planted  the  enemy's  guns  appeared 
in  view. 

The  Sixth  Corps  had  preceded  the  First  Corps  across  the 
pontoons  and  formed  a  line  of  battle  parallel  with  the  river  and 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  enemy's  position.  General  Gibbon's 
division  of  the  Frst  Corps  joined  on  the  left  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  with 


FRANKLIN  S  CROSSING  TO   BATTLEFIELD   OF  FREDERICKSBURG. 

Meade's  division  on  his  left,  and  forming  at  right  angles  with 
Gibbon ;  Meade's  left  resting  on  the  river  at  Smithfield.  Doubleday's 
division  (in  which  was  the  Iron  Brigade)  formed  in  reserve  in  rear  of 
Gibbon  and  Meade. 

The  Iron  Brigade  was  formed  in  column  by  companies  closed 
tn  -masse  on  top  of  a  slight  elevation  where  their  guns  were  stacked 
and  ranks  broken.  The  enemy  soon  discovered  their  position  and 
trained  their  guns  upon  them,  and  dropped  a  few  solid  shot  and  shell 
squarely  among  them.  The  first  one  that  struck  in  the  Twenty-fourth 
caused  some  commotion,  but  did  no  damage.  The  Colonel  told  the 
men  not  to  get  excited,  as  lightning  never  struck  twice  in  the  same 
place.  Immediately  another  shell  exploded  in  closer  proximity  to 

him.     "The  h it  don't"  exclaimed  a  man  in  Company  C,  and  all 

were  moved  forward  a  short  distance,  off  the  crest,  so  as  not  to  draw 


9o 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


the  fire  of  the  enemy.  This  piece  of  merriment  restored  coolness. 
Moving  further  down  the  river,  the  Twenty-fourth  bivouacked  in  a 
chestnut  grove  near  the  Barnard  House  where  it  remained  without 
fires  until  morning. 

This  house  was  a  stately,  ancestral  stone  mansion  fronting  the 
Rappahannock.  Its  owner,  Mr.  Barnard,  was  a  full  blooded  F.  F.  V. 
Some  Surgeons  had  taken  possession  of  it  for  a  hospital,  against  his 
protests.  His  word  had  long  been  authority  thereabouts  and  he. 


BARNARD'S  MANSION. 


haughtily  demanded  of  General  Reynolds,  its  immediate  evacuation. 
This  officer  was  noted  for  his  reticence  and  made  no  reply;  but  soon 
after,  this  proprietary  nuisance  was  marching  off  in  charge  of  a 
corporal's  guard  and  caused  no  more  annoyance. 

On  Saturday  morning,  December  13,  under  cover  of  a  dense  fog, 
the  Federal  troops  formed  for  the  terrible  contest,  on  the  open  plain 
in  rear  of  the  City  and  three  miles  below.  Meade's  division  changed 
front,  facing  the  enemy  on  the  heights  and  extending  the  lines  further 
down  the  river.  Doubleday's  division  was  formed  at  right  angles 
with  Gibbon,  and  as  Meade's  regiments  moved  forward  and  wheeled 
to  the  right  into  line  of  battle,  Doubleday's  division  moved  forward 
taking  the  place  of  Meade,  the  left  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan 
resting  nearly  on  the  river  at  Smithfield.  It  was  a  grand  sight  to  see 
the  troops,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  moving  into  their  respective 


BATTLE   OF   FREDERICKSBURG.  91 

positions  with  the  regularity  of  clock  work.  Regiments  with  the 
alacrity  of  a  company,  brigades  moving  as  a  single  regiment,  formed 
for  the  terrible  onset. 

About  a  mile  back  from  the  river  was  a  range  of  hills  which 
gradually  lowered  down  to  the  level  of  the  plain  on  the  left  of  the 
battlefield.  At  the  front  of  the  range  and  nearly  parallel  with  it  ran 
the  Richmond  railroad.  Nearer  the  river  was  the  Bowling  Green  or 
old  Richmond  Stage  road,  between  which  and  the  river  is  a  wide 
open  plain.  Some  distance  further  down,  the  Massaponax  creek  runs 
into  the  Rappahannock. 

About  nine  o'clock  the  ball  was  opened  by  Reynolds'  Corps  (ist) 
with  his  center  division  under  Meade,  supported  by  Gibbon's  Division 
on  the  right.  Doubleday's  division  was  in  reserve  on  the  extreme 
left.  Meade  and  Gibbon,  after  a  severe  struggle,  carried  the  first  line 
of  the  enemy's  works  on  the  crest.  In  the  dense  wood  their  divisions 
lost  connection,  and  the  enemy  getting  a  reverse  fire  upon  Meade's 
flanks,  both  divisions  retired  from  their  mile  of  advance.  Shortly 
after  Meade's  advance  in  the  morning,  Doubleday's  Division  was 
turned  off  a  mile  to  the  left  to  repel  a  menaced  attack  towards  the 
Massaponax. 

MOVEMENTS   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH   AND   THE 
IRON   BRIGADE. 

Early  in  the  morning  Battery  B,  Fourth  U.  S.  Artillery,  took 
position,  and  the  Iron  Brigade  was  ordered  to  support  it.  After  a 
time  the  Twenty-fourth  was  formed  by  the  right  flank  a  short 
distance  to  clear  the  houses,  and  formed  a  line  of  battle,  still  facing 
south.  While  waiting  to  be  ordered  forward,  some  wounded  from  the 
center  division  were  carried  past,  which  severely  tested  the  nerves  of 
the  men.  One  fellow  had  a  crushed  foot.  Another,  with  both  calves 
of  his  legs  shot  away,  was  breathing  heavily  and  trying  to  conceal 
his  agony.  He  said  :  "  God  bless  you,  boys.  May  He  keep  you  from 
this  terrible  slaughter." 

The  Iron  Brigade  was  formed  in  column  by  regiments  at  the  head 
of  the  division.  The  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  being  a  large  regiment, 
its  right  wing  was  formed  on  the  right  of  the  brigade  and  its  left 
wing  in  rear  of  the  other  wing.  The  other  four  regiments  were 
formed  in  the  rear  with  one  hundred  paces  between  each.  In  this 
manner  the  Iron  Brigade  moved  forward  half  a  mile  to  a  ravine,  when 
it  was  halted  and  the  Twenty-fourth  deployed  into  line,  their  left 
reaching  the  river,  supported  by  the  other  regiments  formed  in 

(7) 


92 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


column  by  division.  At  this  time  the  enemy  opened  with  artillery, 
but  owing  to  a  heavy  fog  his.  range  was  imperfect  and  there  was  no 
injury. 

Our  skirmishers  had  now  met  those  of  the  enemy,  and  the 
musketry  indicated  opposition  to  further  advance.  The  Iron  Brigade 
advanced  across  the  ravine  and  a  line  of  battle  was  formed  with  the 


Sixth  Wisconsin  on  the  left.  Advancing  some  distance  the  skirmishers 
reported  a  force  of  cavalry  and  infantry  concealed  in  a  piece  of  pine 
woods  skirting  the  river,  immediately  in  front.  The  four  center 
companies  of  the  Twenty-fourth  were  broken  to  the  rear  and  six  of 
Battery  B's  guns  planted  in  the  space.  They  opened  fire  at  once  and 
shelled  the  woods. 


BATTLE   OF   FREDERICKSBURG.  93 

The  Iron  Brigade  then  advanced  in  two  lines  on  the  wood.  In 
the  first  line  were  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  and  Seventh  Wisconsin. 
In  the  second  line  were  the  Nineteenth  Indiana  and  Second  Wisconsin; 
the  two  lines  being  supported  by  the  Sixth  Wisconsin.  The  advance 
was  preceded  by  some  U.  S.  sharpshooters,  whom  the  Twenty-fourth 
overtook  at  a  fence  and  who  refused  to  enter  the  woods.  The  captain 
of  the  sharpshooters  called  on  the  Twenty-fourth  "  to  kick  his  men 
over  the  fence,"  and  move  ahead  into  the  woods,  which  it  did,  as 
General  Doubleday  said,  "  in  gallant  style,  taking  a  number  of 
prisoners  and  horses."  This  division  commander  further  said: 

In  this  affair  my  attention  was  particularly  called  to  the  Twenty-fourth 
Michigan  Volunteers,  a  new  regiment  for  the  first  time  under  fire.  I  was  pleased  to 
see  the  alacrity  and  courage  with  which  they  performed  the  duty  assigned  them. 

The  thorough  drill  of  the  Twenty-fourth  thus  won  for  it  this 
praise,  its  alignment  being  straight  as  an  arrow  and  winning  the 
admiration  of  the  whole  division.  In  passing  through  the  wood  it 
proved  to  be  a  very  strong  position  intersected  with  ravines  and 
covered  with  undergrowth,  while  fortifications  and  masked  batteries 
were  arranged  to  sweep  the  river  a  long  distance. 

After  some  further  advance  toward  the  Massaponax,  the  Iron 
Brigade  changed  front,  and  forming  to  the  rigjat  in  an  open  field  with 
a  ravine  running  through  it,  held  a  line  running  parallel  with  the 
Bowling  Green  road.  While  there,  one  of  our  batteries  crossed  the 
ravine,  and  opened  fire  on  the  enemy's  batteries.  In  a  short  time, 
orders  came  for  the  Twenty-fourth  to  advance  and  support  the 
battery.  It  marched  to  the  ravine.  Some  lay  down  in  a  ditch, 
others  in  water,  the  shot  and  shell  whizzing  over  their  heads  as  thick 
as  hail  from  batteries  on  the  right,  left  and  center,  which  filled  the  air 
and  ploughed  the  earth  around.  The  artillerists  were  wounded  and 
reduced.  A  call  was  made  for  volunteers  to  man  the  guns,  and 
immediately  privates  Seril  Chilson  and  Abram  F.  Burden  of  D,  and 
Sullivan  D.  Green  of  F,  stepped  to  the  front  and  worked  with  the 
battery  the  rest  of  the  day. 

OUR  FIRST  CASUALTIES  —  DRILL   ON   THE   BATTLE-FIELD. 

Soon  after,  the  Twenty-fourth  formed  on  the  open  brow  of  the 
hill  again,  fully  exposed  to  the  belching   fire  of  the  enemy's  guns.     It% 
was  about  4  o'clock.     The  regiment  soon  found   shelter  again  in  the 
friendly  ditch,  but. not  before  sustaining  its  first  losses  in  action.     A 
solid    shot    cut    off    the    arm    of    John    Bryant,    and  instantly    killed 


94 


HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


Louis  Hattie  by  severing  his 
head  from  his  body.  Both  be 
longed  to  Company  I.  Young 
Hattie  was  but  eighteen  years 
old,  and  the  favorite  of  the  regi 
ment.  The  casualty  was  soon 
known  along  the  line  and 
created  some  unsteadiness  in 
the  execution  of  orders.  It 
was  a  most  trying  moment  as 
the  cannon  balls  ploughed 
through  the  ranks,  and  shells 
shrieked  like  demons  in  the  aii\ 

Colonel  Morrow  saw  the 
wavering  lines  and  was  quick 
to  discern  that  no  troops  would 
long  stand  in  such  a  fire  unem 
ployed,  without  the  privilege 
of  returning  a  single  shot.  To 
bring  the  men  to  themselves  he 
halted  the  regiment  and  put  it 
through  the  manual  of  arms 
drill.  His  sonorous  orders: 
"Attention,  battalion!  Right 
dress  !  Front !  Support  arms, 
etc."  were  heard  over  the  field^ 
and  with  all  the  precision  of  a 
parade,  the  orders  were  obeyed. 
It  was  a  glorious  sight  to  see 
nearly  a  thousand  men  standing 
at  a  "support  arms,"  while  the 
air  was  torn  with  cannon  balls 
and  the  very  hills  seemed  to- 
rock  under  the  reverberations. 
This  drill  showed  admirable 
discipline,  and  was  creditable 
to  men  and  Colonel. 

The  Twenty-fourth  again 
found  shelter  in  the  ravine 
ditch.  But  soon  after,  to  meet 


BATTLE   OF   FREDERICKSBURG.  95 

some  demonstrations  from  a  supposed  cavalry  attack,  it  was  moved 
back  toward  the  wood  and  formed  square  to  resist  cavalry.  Meanwhile 
Battery  B  was  sent  to  contend  with  two  batteries  and  soon  silenced 
them.  The  Iron  Brigade  would  have  captured  them,  but  the  attack 
of  Meade  and  Gibbon  had  failed,  and  the  enemy,  with  loud  yells,  was 
following  back  these  divisions.  The  Iron  Brigade  was  moved  by  the 
right  flank  to  ward  off  this  danger,  but  the  work  was  done  by  other 
troops.  In  this  movement  a  cannon  shot  took  off  the  head  of  David 
Reed  of  B,  and  wounded  several  others. 

The  enemy  had  the  range  again  with  fatal  effect.  A  fence  was 
in  the  regiment's  front  with  ditches  on  each  side.  Colonel  Morrow 
gave  orders  to  lie  down.  The  men  went  into  the  ditch  with  a  plunge 
pell-mell,  officers  and  men  alike.  It  was  well  they  did  so  for  they 
were  under  a  terrible  crossfire.  Remaining  there  till  about  dark, 
another  order  came  to  move  by  the  left  flank  to  a  position  that  would 
be  under  cover  of  some  woods,  where  it  was  supposed  they  would  be 
out  of  the  reach  of  the  enemy's  guns.  The  most  of  the  Iron  Brigade 
was  behind  a  ditch  running  from  the  Bowling  Green  road  to  the  wood 
on  the  river  bank.  In  the  last  movement  of  the  Twenty-fourth  a 
single  shot  took  off  the  heads  of  Lieutenant  David  Birrell  and  three 
others :  killing  also  another  and  wounding  three  more,  all  in 
Company  K. 

The  Twenty-fourth  regiment  lay  down  in  the  woods  on  the  left 
of  the  line,  and  the  grape  flew  lively  over  the  tree  tops.  In  a  short 
time,  they  marched  back  again  to  the  fence  where  they  lay  on  their 
arms  in  the  ditch  all  night,  the  enemy  from  several  pieces  of  artillery 
continuing  to  hurl  canister  over  their  heads  far  into  the  night. 

It  was  the  regiment's  first  fight.  Nobly  had  it  stood  the  fiery 
ordeal  of  its  bloody  baptism  without  the  poor  privilege  of  returning 
an  answering  shot.  It  had  won  honor  for  itself  and  old  Wayne 
County,  but  sorrow  filled,  every  breast.  It  was  truly  a  mournful 
•event  when  the  Captain  of  Company  K,  that  night,  searched  for  the 
trunkless  head  of  his  son  upon  the  battlefield,  while  the  canister  was 
whistling  above  him,  and  placed  it  with  the  young  boy's  remains  for 
burial !  Lieutenant  Birrell  and  the  latter,  Sergeant  Wallace  W.  Wight 
had  slept  together  the  night  before  and  laid  plans  for  the  day's 
contest.  Alas,  for  human  hopes!  their  dreams  of  youth  were  brief  and 
they  again  slept  side  by  side,  in  bloody  graves. 


96  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN. 


ON   THE   FEDERAL   RIGHT  —  CHARGE   OF   THE    IRISH   BRIGADE. 

The  attack  by  Sumner  on  the  extreme  right  began  about  ir 
o'clock,  when  his  forces  deployed  from  the  city  over  the  plain  and  up 
the  elevation  in  front  of  Marye's  Height,  but  without  avail.  The 
whole  field  was  swept  so  effectually  by  converging  crossfires  from 
batteries  along  the  semi-circular  crest,  that  a  chicken  could  scarcely  get 
through  alive.  It  seemed  folly  to  march  men  up  into  such  a  vortex 
of  death  —  a  movement  which  every  soldier  and  officer  except  the 
Commander,  believed  to  be  useless.  Three  unsuccessful  attempts 
had  been  made  to  scale  these  Heights,  yet  Burnside  insisted 
"  That  crest  must  be  carried  to-night,"  a  resolve  born  of  desperation, 
not  of  judgement  or  good  generalship. 

Soon  after,  loud  cheers  were  heard  at  the  front ;  not  the  "  rebel 
yell,"  but  from  the  proud  ranks  of  Thomas  Francis  Meagher's  Irish 
Brigade.  With  sleeves  rolled  up,  bearing  aloft  the  green  flag  of  Ireland 
and  the  Star  Spangled  Banner,  they  moved  upon  the  stone  wall  in 
that  valley  of  death.  For  several  minutes  not  a  gun  was  fired  on 
either  side.  It  was  a  forlorn  hope  and  the  desperate  charge  was 
beheld  with  interest  and  wonder  by  friend  and  foe.  As  they  neared 
the  vortex  of  death,  a  hundred  guns  opened  upon  them.  Closing  up 
their  ranks,  they  double-quicked  for  the  Heights,  but  vain  task!  with 
fearful  loss  the  gallant  charge  was  a  failure. 

Next,  Hooker  was  ordered  in.  Surveying  the  field  and  consulting- 
those  who  had  preceded  him  in  the  attempt  he  spurs  his  horse 
back  to  Burnside  and  urges  him  to  cease  the  attack.  But  the  latter 
insists,  and  Humphrey's  division,  with  empty  muskets,  4,000  strongr 
formed  for  the  charge.  In  half  an  hour,  1,800  of  them  lay  dead  and 
wounded  on  that  bloody  plain.  Darkness  dropped  its  curtain  on  the 
tragic  contest.  Far  better  had  the  bloody  efforts  ceased  after  the  first 
assault  disclosed  the  impregnability  of  the  enemy's  position,  and  the 
fearful  slaughter  that  followed  would  have  been  averted. 

That  night  was  very  cold,  and  mortal  can  never  know  the  agony 
and  suffering  of  the  wounded  on  that  crimsoned  field.  No  aid  could 
reach  them  that  night  nor  the  next  day,  and  as  the  dead  stiffened,  they 
were  rolled  into  heaps  to  protect  those  still  living.  A  woman  residing 
near  the  scene  said  the  field  at  night  was  blue,  but  the  next  morning 
it  was  white,  as  the  dead  had  been  stripped  of  their  clothing  by  the 
enemy.  Burnside  resolved  to  renew  the  fight  the  next  morning* 
leading  his  old  Ninth  Corps  himself,  but  the  unanimous  voice  of  his 
Generals  prevailed  against  it  and  the  tragedy  was  ended. 


BATTLE    OF   FREDERICKSBURG.  97 

AFTER   THE   BATTLE — COMMENTS. 

Returning  to  the  Iron  Brigade:  by  the  blunder  of  an  Aide, 
General  Meredith  was  relieved  by  Colonel  Cutler  of  the  Sixth 
Wisconsin,  who  slightly  changed  the  line  of  the  Twenty-fourth  to 
avoid  an  enfilading  fire.  The  Seventh  Wisconsin  was  on  its  left  and 
the  other  regiments  in  a  second  line  200  paces  in  the  rear,  which 
positio'n  was  occupied  during  Sunday  and  Monday.  During  this  time 
a  portion  of  the  Twenty-fourth  was  sent  to  the  front  on  picket. 
There  was  sharp  skirmishing  but  no  engagement,  and  at  intervals  a 
brisk  cannonading  from  the  enemy's  batteries.  Their  position  was  a 
strong  one  upon  hills  covered  with  a  thick  growth  of  wood,  protected 
in  front  and  flank  by  creeks,  marshes  and  almost  impenetrable 
underbrush.  The  whole  was  armed  with  batteries,  ready  to  repel 
any  effort  to  storm  their  stronghold. 

On  Monday  the  I5th,  General  Franklin  desiring  to  know  the 
location  and  force  of  the  extreme  right  of  the  foe,  gave  Colonel 
Morrow  permission  to  make  a  reconnoissance  to  the  Massaponax.  In 
full  view  of  the  enemy,  with  Companies  C  and  I  and  a  few  of  E,  he 
performed  the  task  which  resulted  in  much  valuable  information. 
The  movement  was  hazardous,  as  they  pushed  nearly  to  the  enemy's 
lines  and  might  have  been  made  prisoners  easily.  The  Colonel  and 
men  received  the  thanks  of  General  Franklin  on  the  field  for  their 
work. 

On  Monday  the  dead  of  the  Twenty-fourth  were  gathered  and 
the  last  sad  rites  performed.  They  were  buried  near  where  they  fell, 
near  the  banks  of  the  Rappahannock,  on  the  field  yet  red  with  their 
blood.  At  half-past  nine  on  Monday  night,  amid  a  rain  storm, 
silently  and  secretly,  not  above  a  breath,  came  the  order  to  pack  up 
and  be  ready  to  move.  At  midnight,  leaving  the  battle  ground 
behind,  and  having  placed  pine  boughs  on  the  pontoon  bridges  to 
prevent  the  rumble  of  moving  artillery,  they  quietly  re-crossed  the 
river  at  a  quickstep,  and  moved  up  the  hill  which  they  had  lately 
descended  so  full  of  hope.  On  Tuesday  morning  the  whole  Union 
army  was  safely  on  the  north  bank  of  the  river  without  the  loss  of 
a  gun. 

In  the  recent  battle  the  Union  army  numbered  113,000  men,  and 
the  Confederate  78,500.  The  Union  loss  in  killed,  wounded  and 
missing,  was  12,653  5  the  Confederate  loss,  5,377.  The  common  voice 
of  mankind  will  condemn  such  sacrifice  without  any  gain.  Within 
five  weeks  after  a  change  of  commanders  this  army  lost  nearly  as 


BATTLE   OF   FREDERICKSBURG.  99 

many  in  action  as  was  its  total  loss  in  action  on  the  Peninsula.  Yet, 
we  do  not  wholly  censure  Burnside  for  the  result.  He  protested  that 
he  was  not  equal  to  the  command  when  it  was  forced  upon  him.  The 
newspaper  generals,  too,  must  share  the  responsibility  for  a  public 
sentiment  which  demanded  that  an  end  be  put  to  a  so-called 
"  inactivity  and  delay,"  utterly  regardless  of  all  preparations  of  the 
army  and  essential  conditions  for  success.  It  was  Bull  Run  re-enacted. 
The  new  commander  must  fight  a  battle  or  suffer  reproach  and 
contumely  from  "shin-toasters"  at  home  firesides.  He  fought  and 
failed.  Most  generously  did  he  assume  all  the  responsibility,  which 
somewhat  blunted  the  keen  edge  of  criticism. 

His  plan  of  massing  on  the  strongest  point  of  the  enemy  was  a 
tried  military  tactic.  Greater  generals  had  tried  it,  and  both  failed 
and  succeeded.  By  it  Napoleon  won  his  victories ;  yet  it  failed  him 
at  Aspern  and  Waterloo.  By  it  Austerlitz,  the  Bridge  of  Lodi,  and 
Wagram  were  won  ;  and  later,  Magenta  and  Solferino.  Lee  adopted 
it  at  Malvern  Hill  and  Gettysburg  and  lost.  Burnside  had  used  it  at 
Roanoke  and  Newbern  and  won.  His  heart  was  in  the  cause  for 
which  he  fought,  whatever  his  error  in  judgment  or  execution.  It 
is  idle  to  speculate  on  what  might  have  been.  Defeated  and 
despondent,  the  army  resumed  its  position  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
Rappahannock. 

LOSSES    OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

The  following  were  killed  on  the  battle-field: 

Second  Lieutenant  DAVID  BIRRELL,  Company  K. 

David  Reed, B         James  R.  Ewing, K 

Louis  Hattie I         John  Litogot K 

Sergeant  Wallace  W.  Wight,       .       K         Francis  Pepin,        ...  K 

The  following  were  the  wounded  : 

Captain  WILLIAM  A.  OWEN,  in  spane,  by  concussion  of  shell,  G 
First  Lieutenant  CHARLES  A.  HOYT,  in  leg,        "  C 

Second        "         H.  REES  WHITING,       "  A 

Second         "         F.  AUGUSTUS  BUHL,  in  arm,  by  shell,  B 

Sergeant  Robert  A.  Bain,  arm  amputated, K 

Sergeant  George  W.  Fox,  in  shoulder, K 

Corporal  Daniel  McPherson,  in  hand C 

Corporal  Orson  B.  Curtis,  D,  lost  left  arm  fighting  in  Third 
Brigade,  Second  Division,  Second  Army  Corps,  while 
on  his  way  from  the  hospital  at  Brooks'  Station  to  find 
his  regiment,  by  consent  of  Assistant  Surgeon  Charles 
C.  Smith. 

Corporal  John  Tait,  in  shoulder, .      G 

Private  John  Bryant,  arm  amputated,     .     .     . 

Private  Fernando  D.  Forbes,  in  shoulder, K 


100  HISTORY   OF   THE  TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Charles  Willaird,  wrist,       ...     A         Bristol  A.  Lee,  hand,       .     .     .     .     C 

Clark  Davis,  head,        B         Abraham  Velie,  arm,    ....        C 

George  H.  Graves,  arm,  B         Robert  D.  Simpson,  shoulder,  H 

The  following  were  taken  prisoners: 

Corporal  Benjamin  F.  Buyer, F 

Corporal  Irwin  W.  Knapp, F 

Corporal  Royal  L.  Potter F 

Oliver  M.  Moon, D         Daniel  D.  Webster, F 

John  Southard E         Edward  L.  Farrell, H 

Edward  Tracy, E         Albert  Ganong K 

The  following  were  missing: 

Arnold  Stowell, H         Alexander  J.  Eddy, I 

Summary:     Killed,  7;  wounded,  18;  prisoners,  9;  missing,  2.     Total,  36. 

The  other  regiments  of  the  Iron  Brigade  lost  as  follows: 

Second  Wisconsin, n         Seventh  Wisconsin, 12 

Sixth  Wisconsin, 4         Ninteenth  Indiana, 6 


COMPLIMENTS  —  MARCH    TO    BELLE    PLAIN. 

A  Detroit  Free  Press  correspondent  said: 

Let  me  record  for  our  children,  and  our  children's  children,  that  the  regiment 
which  Wayne  county  raised  in  little  more  than  ten  days  has,  on  its  first  field,  fully 
sustained  the  honor  of  its  State  and  added  glory  to  the  already  bright  record 
emblazoned  upon  the  banners  of  other  Michigan  regiments. 


The  day  after  the  battle,  General  A.  P.  Hill  sent  in  a  flag  of 
truce  with 'which  he  sent  his  compliments  to  General  Doubleday  in 
admiration  of  the  unyielding  ffont  maintained  by  his  division,  and 
that  he  never  saw  troops  stand  such  a  shelling  in  his  life.  The 
Confederate  truce  officer  inquired,  "  What  regiment  of  blue  breeches 
was  that  which  withstood  so  gallantly  the  terrible  enfilading  fire  of 
his  batteries  the  evening  before?"  He  was  told  that  it  was  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan. 

On  December  19,  General  Meredith  wrote  to  Colonel  Morrow : 

The  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  behaved  splendidly  under  a  terrific  and  continuous 
artillery  fire,  calculated  severely  to  test  the  oldest  and  best  disciplined  troops,  proving 
themselves  worthy  of  association  with  the  Iron  Brigade,  and  it  affords  me  pleasure  to 
say  that  the  compliments  paid  the  regiment  for  their  gallantry  on  that  occasion  are 
well  deserved. 


BATTLE   OF   FREDERICKSBURG.  IOI 

In  his  official  report  General  Meredith  also  said : 

The  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  is  a  new  regiment,  having  never  before  been 
under  fire.  They  showed  themselves  worthy  of  the  praises  they  have  received. 
Their  line  of  battle  upon  entering  the  woods  was  splendid,  showing  both  courage  and 
discipline. 


GENERAL  ABNER  DOUBLEDAY,    COMMANDER  OF 
FIRST  DIVISION  FIRST  CORPS. 

General  Doubleday  in  his  official  report  said  : 

Colonel  Morrow's  regiment  led  the  advance  and  carried  the  woods  in  gallant 
style,  capturing  many  prisoners  and  horses.  In  this  affair  my  attention  was 
particularly  directed  to  this  regiment,  which  had  never  before  been  under  fire,  and  I 
was  pleased  to  see  the  courage  and  alacrity  with  which  they  performed  the  duty 
assigned  them.  *  *  *  The  enemy  were  pressing  hard  upon  my  center,  evidently 
with  an  intention  to  break  it,  and  I  used  all  the  means  within  my  power  to  strengthen 
that  portion  of  my  line.  But  there  was  no  danger.  The  men  stood  as  if  rooted  to  the 
spot  and  though  suffering  severely  from  the  enemy's  canister  they  did  not  yield  an 
inch  of  ground. 

The  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  made  a  good  appearance  in  this  their  first 
engagement.  They  were  exceedingly  anxious  to  go  always  to  the  front,  and,  resting 
upon  our  hard  earned  laurels,  we  were  generously  willing  they  should  do  so.  But 
there  was  little  choice  of  place  on  that  open  plain.  No  soldiers  ever  faced  fire  more 
bravely,  and  they  showed  themselves  of  a  fibre  worthy  to  be  woven  into  the  woof  of 
the  Iron  Brigade.  Colonel  Morrow  was  equal  to  all  requirements,  enterprising, 
brave,  and  ambitious,  he  stepped  at  once  into  a  circle  of  the  best  and  most 
experienced  regimental  commanders  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  —  GENERAL  DAWES' 
Service  with  Sixth  Wisconsin. 

And  thus  Colonel,  officers  and  men  behaved  most  nobly. 
Quartermaster  Bell  was  on  the  field  every  day  with  rations  for  the 
men,  an  exposure  to  danger  rarely  made  by  his  class. 


102  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Previous  to  the  late  battle,  the  older  regiments  of  the  Iron 
Brigade  refused  all  sociability  with  our  regiment,  regarding  us  with 
aversion  and  studiously  keeping  out  of  our  camp.  But  its  noble 
conduct  on  this  occasion  entirely  destroyed  this  exclusiveness  and 
the  greatest  cordiality  ever  after  prevailed. 

While  in  camp  opposite  Fredericksburg,  after  the  battle,  the 
regiment  received  an  agreeable  visit  of  three  days  from  Mr.  Stanley  G. 
Wight  of  Detroit,  a  brother  of  Captain  Edwin  B.  Wight.  He  was  a 
stanch  friend  of  the  regiment  and  during  its  recruitment  period, 
contributed  liberally  in  its  behalf.  After  remaining  in  camp  four 
days  at  this  place,  the  regiment  with  the  Brigade,  on  Saturday, 
December  20,  moved  towards  Belle  Plain.  It  marched  about  ten 
miles  and  bivouacked,  after  wandering  about  some  time  on  the  wrong 
road.  On  the  morning  of  the  23d,  they  moved  on  to  within  a  mile  of 
Pratt's  Landing  on  the  Potomac,  near  Belle  Plain,  and  began  building 
winter  cabins. 

LETTER   OF   CHAPLAIN   WILLIAM    C.    WAY. 

CAMP  ISABELLA,  NEAR  BELLE  PLAIN,  ) 
STAFFORD  Co.,  VA.,  Dec.  31,  1862.  j 

The  hour  and  circumstances  are  indeed  solemn.  It  is  almost  midnight  and  all 
is  still  save  the  sound  of  the  mournful  wind,  whose  wintry  moans  are  a  fit  requiem 
for  the  dying  year — full  of  interest  and  sorrow.  It  has  borne  many  a  brave  form  to 
the  grave  and  his  spirit  to  the  changeless  shores  of  eternity.  Its  now  dimmed  eye 
has  witnessed  the  tear  of  anguish  as  it  has  coursed  from  the  cheek  of  father,  mother, 
brother,  sister,  wife  and  child,  because  of  the  fates  of  war  that  have  carried  sorrow  to 
their  once  happy  home.  Some  stirring  scenes  and  changes  have  occurred  in  the 
Twenty-fourth.  Some  of  our  noble  boys  sleep  in  honored  graves,  fallen  in  defense  of 
our  nation's  ensign. 

In  camp  here  we  have  buried  two  of  our  men,  Joseph  Gohir  and  Marcus  G. 
Wheeler  of  Company  F.  Exposure  for  two  nights  on  the  battlefield  without  blankets, 
has  multiplied  our  sick.  We  have  for  hospital  use,  a  log  house  and  two  large  tents, 
with  stoves,  and  straw  for  bedding,  but  a  lack  of  proper  remedies  and  food.  It  is 
hard  for  a  well  man  to  live  on  hardtack;  much  more  a  sick  one.  It  is  almost 
impossible  to  get  delicacies  and  medical  stores,  and  the  lives  of  our  men  are  often 
sacrificed  for  want  of  them. 

The  Twenty-fourth  won  its  spurs  in  the  late  battle  and  has  a  right  to  wear  the 
Black  Hats  of  the  "  Iron  Brigade,"  the  only  entire  brigade  that  wears  them,  and  the 
old  regiments  say  that  they  can  now  swear  by  the  Twenty-fourth.  A  rebel  force  was 
concealed  in  a  clump  of  woods,  and  Colonel  Morrow  was  given  permission  to  "clean 
out  the  nest."  An  Aide  said  to  General  Doubleday:  "  This  regiment  has  never  been 
under  fire."  Colonel  Morrow  hearing  the  remark,  replied:  "That  is  immaterial,  Sir, 
we  will  take  the  wood,"  and  they  did.  Then  General  Doubleday  rode  up  to  Colonel 
Morrow  and  said:  "lam  satisfied.  Your  regiment  has  behaved  most  splendidly." 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Flanigan  proposed  three  cheers  for  the  General,  which  were 
heard  above  the  din  of  battle. 


BATTLE   OF   FREDERICKSBURG.  103. 

A  piece  of  shell  struck  Captain  C.  A.  Hoyt  on  the  knee,  causing  a  painful 
contusion.  Being  advised  by  the  Colonel  to  retire,  he  replied:  "  No,  Sir,  I  have  been 
trying  to  regard  this  as  a  wound,  but  it  won't  do.  I  must  try  again."  Lieutenant  C. 
C.  Yemans  performed  the  duties  of  Acting  Adjutant  for  forty-eight  hours  on  the 
battlefield.  Corporal  Silas  H.  Wood  of  I,  Sergeant  Wm.  B.  Hutchinson  of  F  a'nd 
Sergeant  William  Murray  of  I  distinguished  themselves  by  acts  of  bravery.  The 
instances  of  individual  acts  of  bravery  are  numerous.  "  Right  dress"  has  become  a 
byword  in  camp  since  the  manual  erf  arms  exercise  of  the  regiment  under  the  terrific 
artillery  fire.  Many  hairbreadth  escapes  and  heroic  incidents  are  related  around  the 
campfires. 

Memory  will  carry  many  of  us  back  to-morrow  to  other  days  when  peace  and 
prosperity  blessed  the  land,  and  thousands  of  brave  men  who  have  voluntarily 
estranged  themselves  from  home  were  enjoying  the  gain  of  their  industry  with  their 
families  on  New  Year's  day.  With  a  wish  that  our  friends  at  home  may  have  a 
happy  New  Year,  I  wrap  my  blanket  around  me  and  lie  down  to  rest  as  soldiers  do. 

WILLIAM  C.  WAY,  Chaplain. 

RESIGNATIONS  —  PROGRESS   OF   THE   WAR. 

During  the  closing  days  of  the  year,  several  officers  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  resigned,  each  for  sufficient  reasons.  Before  the 
regiment  started  for  Belle  Plain,  after  the  battle,  Major  Henry  W. 
Nail  left  it  on  sick  leave  to  go  to  Baltimore  Hospital.  His  health 
was  so  precarious  from  arduous  service  in  the  Peninsula  Campaign, 
that  both  himself  and  some  of  the  officers  of  the  regiment  believed  he 
would  never  return,  and  their  expectations  were  well  founded. 
Captain  Edwin  B.  Wight  was  immediately  appointed  Acting-Major 
and  eventually  succeeded  to  the  full  majority  after  the  death  of 
Major  Nail,  a  few  months  later.  The  following  officers  resigned 
about  this  time:  Captains  James  Cullen,  Isaac  W.  Ingersoll  and 
Warren  G.  Vinton ;  and  Lieutenants  John  M.  Gordon  and  John  J. 
Lennon.  The  resignation  of  Captain  Vinton  was  against  his  wishes, 
but  in  compliance  with  the  advice  and  assurance  of  the  Surgeon  that 
his  life  depended  upon  his  retirement  from  the  exposures  of  the  field. 
He  had  shown  great  zeal  and  sacrifice  of  business  and  money  in  the 
organization  of  the  regiment,  and  was  loth  to  leave  it,  and  utterly 
refused  to  do  so  until  after  its  first  engagement. 

During  the  fall  and  closing  months  of  1862,  the  Western  Armies 
had  not  been  inactive.  During  August,  the  general  operations  of  the 
main  armies,  east  and  west,  were  in  favor  of  the  South.  On 
September  16,  the  Confederates  captured  4,000  Union  prisoners  at 
Murnfordsville,  Kentucky.  But  on  the  iQth  and  2oth,  General 
Rosecrans  defeated  the  Confederates  with  great  loss  at  luka, 
Mississippi.  On  October  3d,  the  Confederates  were  defeated  with 
great  loss  at  Corinth,  Mississippi.  The  Confederate  Army  in  the 


104  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

West  pushed  headlong  for  Louisville,  while  Lee  was  invading 
Maryland,  but  was  compelled  to  retreat,  during  which  a  bloody  battle 
was  fought  at  Perryville,  Kentucky,  when  it  was  forced  to  resume  its 
retreat  south. 

On  December  3ist,  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  or  Stone's  River, 
in  Tennessee,  commenced  with  a  Federal  repulse.  The  battle  was 
continued  with  great  slaughter  on  both  sides  the  two  following  days. 
But  on  January  3d,  the  Southern  Army  retreated.  Of  the  many 
minor  engagements  east  and  west,  we  shall  attempt  no  mention,  as 
they  are  without  the  scope  and  object  of  this  volume.  The  Union 
losses  only  stimulated  the  iron  resolution  of  the  North  which  showed, 
amid  its  reverses,  an  unfaltering  spirit  to  furnish  whatever  was 
required  for  success,  in  men  and  money. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


WINTER  QUARTERS  AT  BELLE  PLAIN. 


EMANCIPATION    PROCLAMATION  —  CAMP   ISABELLA  — 
ARMY    CABINS. 

URING  the  reverses  in  the  summer  of  1862,  President 
Lincoln  took  a  vow  that  if  Providence  would  bless  the 
Union  arms  with  an  important  victory  he  would  exercise  the 
war  powers  of  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  United  States  Army 
and  emancipate  the  slaves.  Accordingly,  after  the  brilliant  victories 
of  South  Mountain  and  Antietam  in  September,  he  issued  a  warning 
proclamation  to  the  Confederate  States  in  rebellion,  that  unless  they 
returned  to  their  allegiance  within  one  hundred  days,  he  would  declare 
every  slave  free  within'  the  borders  of  districts  still  in  rebellion  on 
January  I,  1863.  He  was  punctual  to  his  warning  and  issued  such 
proclamation,  declaring  all  slaves  forever  free  in  such  States  and  parts 
of  States  as  were  still  in  arms  against  the  Union. 

Prior  to  the  firing  upon  Fort  Sumter  there  was  no  disposition  in 
the  North,  except  with  a  few  harmless  abolitionists,  to  disturb  the 
slave  conditions  of  the  South  —  certainly  not  by  the  Democratic 
party,  while  the  Republican  party  had  ever  disavowed  any  interference 
—  their  doctrine  simply  being  limitation  of  slavery  within  its  then 
existent  borders.  But  when  the  South  rent  the  Union  and  drenched 
our  land  with  blood  in  slavery's  behalf,  abolitionism  became  less 
odious.  One  battle  is  sufficient  to  educate  and  convert  a  nation  to 
an  idea,  and  as  regiment  after  regimeut  of  Northern  soldiers  left  for 
the  South,  thousands  of  them  never  to  return,  there  was  but  little 
opposition  in  the  North  to  the  action  of  the  President.  Some 
discussion  was  excited,  but  it  gradually  died  out  in  approval  of  his 
course. 

Camp  Isabella,  named  after  the  Colonel's  wife,  who  brightened 
camp  life  by  her  genial  presence  during  the  winter,  was  to  be  the 
home  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  for  the  next  four  months.  It 

(105) 


106  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

was  situated  upon  the  side  of  a  steep  knoll  or  bank  of  one  of  the 
numerous  ravines  that  break  up  the  surface  of  the  country  around,  so 
that  no  level  camping  ground  could  be  found.  It  was  about  three 
miles  from  Belle  Plain  where  Potomac  Creek  enters  the  larger  river  of 
that  name,  and  whose  expanse  can  be  seen  from  the  camp.  Upon 
arrival  here  the  men  began  to  build  winter  habitations  with  material 
from  the  neighboring  woods. 

These  army  cabins  had  a  variety  of  style.  Some  were  dug  out  of 
the  steep  bank ;  others  made  of  small  logs.  They  were  about  eight 
by  ten  feet  in  size  and  five  feet  high,  with  shelter  tents  for  roof  and 
gable  coverings.  The  hillsides  furnished  good  fire-places,  which  were 


HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE    "TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN"   AT  CAMP   ISABELLA,   BELLE   PLAIN,   VA., 
DURING  WINTER  OP  1862-3. — SKETCHED   BY  H.  J.  BROWN,  OF  "  TWENTY- FOURTH   MICHIGAN." 

finished  with  stone,  and  had  mud  and  stick  chimney.  The  spaces 
between  the  logs  were  plastered  with  mud  which  soon  hardened. 
The  hard  ground  answered  for  a  floor,  while  bedsteads  were  fashioned 
from  poles  covered  with  pine  and  cedar  boughs.  The  beds  served  for 
chairs  and  knees  for  tables.  A  bed  was  constructed  on  each  side  of 
the  cabin,  and  the  space  between  was  kitchen,  sitting-room  and  parlor 
in  one.  A  hardtack  box  served  for  a  pantry,  and  such  was  the 
soldiers'  winter  quarters.  A  bayonet  stuck  in  the  ground  with  a 
candle  on  top  served  for  lighting  the  humble  abode,  which  was  usually 
occupied  by  three  or  four  comrades.  Here  the  soldier  cooked,  ate, 
slept,  and  passed  his  time  when  other  duties  permitted,  waiting  for 
the  activities  of  the  army  in  the  spring. 


WINTER    QUARTERS   AT    BELLE    PLAIN.  IQ/ 

SHODDY   CONTRACTORS — HOME    SOUVENIRS  —  PROMOTIONS. 

Friday,  January  2,  1863,  found  many  sick  in  camp.  There  was 
much  suffering  for  want  of  food  and  clothes,  largely  the  fault  of 
rascally  government  contractors  and  inspectors  who  were  usually  in 
collusion  to  force  upon  soldiers  articles  of  shoddy  make-up  and 
material.  The  shoes  frequently  had  for  soles  scraps  and 
shavings  of  leather,  glued  or  pasted  together,  which  went  to  pieces  in 
one  day's  march  in  mud  or  rain.  Their  pantaloons  and  other  clothing 
were  soon  in  shreds  or  "  out  all  around,"  because  of  shoddy  material. 
As  a  result  of  this  swindling  the  hospitals  were  filled  with  victims  to 
exposure.  These  rascals  did  more  to  weaken  the  army  by  sickness 
and  disease  than  battle  casualties.  Had  one  of  these  rascals  been 
occasionally  hanged  or  shot  for  this  worse  than  treasonable  conduct, 
it  would  have  been  as  justifiable  as  shooting  some  boy  deserter  who 
was  perhaps  prompted  to  become  such  by  sufferings  caused  by  these 
rascals.  But  such  severity  of  punishment  was  always  reserved  for  the 
humble  rank  and  file  who  cannot  resign  to  evade  punishment. 

On  Monday  the  5th,  Generals  Doubleday  and  Wadsworth 
reviewed  the  division,  and  the  next  day  in  a  cold  rain  Companies  A, 
D  and  F  were  sent  on  picket.  Others  took  their  turn  at  this  duty 
during  the  winter. 

Saturday  the  loth,  was  a  gala  day  in  camp.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Flanigan  had  arrived  with  three  wagonloads  of  boxes  from  home. 
They  contained  cakes,  gloves,  shoes  and  a  variety  of  parcels,  which 
were  opened  with  eagerness  before  a  crowd  of  envious  gazers.  Some 
touching  messages  came  also.  One  read,  "  We  are  all  well  but  with 
sorrowing  hearts.  Mother  wept  for  three  days  after  the  battle  till  she 
heard  that  you  were  safe,  but  now  she  is  anxious  for  tidings  of  our 
two  brothers  from  the  bloody  field  in  Tennessee  (Stone's  River)." 
Several  boxes  of  sanitary  stores  came  for  the  hospital,  and  the  appeal  of 
the  Colonel  in  early  winter  for  gloves  for  the  men  was  cheerfully  met. 
On  Sunday  the  iith,  the  regiment  was  formed  in  a  hollow  square 
to  witness  the  promotions  to  vacancies  caused  by  the  recent 
resignations.  The  favored  ones  were  called  to  the  center  and  briefly 
addressed  by  the  Colonel  who  then  gave  each  his  commission.  First 
Lieutenants  Rexford  and  Hoyt,  and  Second  Lieutenant  O'Donnell 
became  Captains;  Second  Lieutenants  Buhl  and  Safford,  and  Sergeant- 
Major  Edwin  E.  Norton  became  First  Lieutenants,  while  Sergeants 
Witherspoon,  Hutton,  Dempsey  and  Humphreyville  became  Second 
Lieutenants.  Cheers  went  up  for  the  new  officers  on  reaching  camp. 

(8) 


108  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


THE    FUNERAL   IN   CAMP. 

The  death  angel  continued  to  call  at  the  hospital  for  those  who 
were  sick  and  far  from  the  endearments  of  home  friends.  Sergeant 
Herbert  Adams  of  H,  and  Charles  D.  Hoagland  of  K,  were  summoned 
to  their  final  discharge  early  in  the  new  year.  A  funeral  in  camp  is  a 
solemn  affair.  Though  inured  to  death  on  the  battle-field,  the  soldier 
who  died  in  camp  was  mourned  for  as  if  a  neighbor  at  home,  by  his 
comrades,  and  sympathy  was  shown  a  friend  or  relative  who  might  be 
present.  He  died  far  away  from  mother,  or  wife  and  children.  No 
hand  of  womanly  affection  smoothed  his  pillow,  but  his  comrades  did 
for  him  what  they  could  and  gave  him  a  soldier's  burial. 

In  his  uniform  of  blue,  he  was  placed  in  a  plain,  rough  coffin  and 
sometimes  in  his  blanket  only.  Over  his  remains  were  hung  the  stars 
and  stripes.  The  solemn  procession,  headed  by  the  Band  with 
muffled  drum,  commenced  its  slow  march  to  the  grave.  The  solemn 
strains  were  borne  away  upon  the  chilling  breeze.  With  reversed 
arms,  his  comrades  followed  and  halted  at  the  lonely  grave.  Amid 
silence  the  Chaplain  performed  his  sacred  duty.  Prayer  was  offered 
and  "Ashes  to  Ashes"  were  the  words  heard  as  the  clods  fell  upon 
the  lowered  coffin.  Volleys  were  fired  as  a  salute  to  the  dead  and  the 
departed  comrade  was  left  in  peace. 

"The  muffled  drum's  sad  roll  has  beat  the  Soldier's  last  tattoo  ; 
No  more  on  Life's  parade  shall  meet  the  brave  and  fallen  few, 
On  Fame's  eternal  camping  ground  his  silent  tent  is  spread, 
And  Glory  guards,  with  solemn  round,  the  bivouac  of  the  dead." 

His  marches  and  fatigues  are  over,  no  more  will  he  respond  to 
awakening  notes  of  reveille.  There  is  sorrow  in  camp  and  at  home. 
May  the  Great  Comforter  heal  those  hearts  which  bleed  at  the 
bereaved  Michigan  fireside.  If  a  son,  fond  parents  will  mourn  the 
vacant  chair  of  him  who  sleeps  for  the  flag  in  rebellion  land.  If  a 
father,  hear  the  leaves  rustle  and  winds  moan  about  yonder  cabin 
door.  Over  the  cheerless  hearth  within,  a  woman  weeps  and  a 
sympathizing  group  anxiously  ask  why  mamma  weeps  so,  and  why 
papa  don't  come  home. 

"Alas  !     Nor  wife,  nor  children  more  shall  he  behold, 
Nor  friends,  nor  sacred  home." 


WINTER   QUARTERS   AT   BELLE    PLAIN.  IOC) 

WINTER   CAMP   EVENTS — ABORTIVE    MOVEMENT. 

On  the  i6th,  news  came  of  the  fate  of  some  of  the  missing  in  the 
late  battle.  Having  sought  a  better  sleeping  place  the  night  of  the 
withdrawal,  they  were  astonished  the  next  morning  to  find  the  field 
deserted,  and  were  soon  after  hailed  by  the  "  Greybacks"  to  lay  down 
their  arms.  They  were  taken  to  Richmond  where,  for  twenty-three 
days  they  put  up  at  the  "  Libbey  House,"  when  all  were  exchanged 
but  Corporal  Potter  and  Albert  Ganong,  who  had  died  of  typhoid 
fever. 

James  F.  Raymond,  leader  of  the  Band,  was  a  brother  of  Honor 
able  Henry  J.Raymond  of  the  New  York  Times.  The  latter  resolved 
upon  a  visit  to  his  brother,  and  a  telegram  informed  him  that  his 
brother's  corps  was  at  Belle  Plain,  but  the  operator  put  a  final  e  to 
the  word  corps,  and  he  at  once  started  for  his  brother's  supposed 
remains.  Arriving  at  General  Wadsworth's  tent,  a  messenger  was 
sent  to  Colonel  Morrow,  asking  if  James  F.  Raymond  was  dead. 
""You  would  not  think  so  if  you  had  heard  him  blowing  his  horn  this 
afternoon,"  was  the  reply.  The  brothers  met  with  mingled 
astonishment  and  happiness. 

The  Colonel  was  determined  that  the  Twenty-fourth  should  not 
be  excelled  in  drill  proficiency,  and  each  permanent  camp  brought 
orders  for  a  daily  exercise  in  the  tactics.  The  men  were  trained  to 
know  the  several  bugle  calls  of  camp  and  the  more  important  ones  of 
"advance"  and  "retreat"  in  battle.  The  policeing  of  the  camp  and 
sanitary  habits  of  the  men  received  close  attention  as  well  as  their 
personal  appearance. 

Divine  worship  was  established  and  the  Chaplain  preached  on 
Sundays  as  often  as  the  elements  and  circumstances  would  permit. 
The  several  companies  were  drawn  up  in  line,  and  such  as  were  of 
a  different  worship  were  told  to  step  out  of  the  ranks,  while  the  rest 
were  marched  to  the  "  meeting  ground,"  where  a  short  discourse  was 
preached  by  the  Chaplain.  When  the  elements  precluded  this 
exercise,  the  Chaplain  supplied  the  men  from  tent  to  tent  with 
reading  matter. 

The  shoddy  contractors  got  in  their  work  in  poor  rations  no  less 
than  in  shoddy  clothing.  Sometimes  a  piece  of  bacon  encased  in 
cloth  canvas  was  so  full  of  worms  that  the  sack  could  be  plainly  seen 
in  a  continuous  motion  from  the  wriggling  maggots  within.  Such 
offensive  food  was  sent  for  the  soldiers  to  eat.  Boards  of  Review  were 
occasionally  appointed  from  the  officers  to  condemn  the  wormy  bread 
and  bacon  and  decayed  beef. 


1 10  HISTORY  OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

About  two  weeks  after  the  defeat  at  Fredericksburg,  Burnside 
resolved  upon  another  movement  against  the  enemy,  this  time,  sevens 
miles  down  the  river.  The  movement  was  to  begin  December  30,. 
^ut  was  abandoned  by  order  of  the  President,  who  informed  Burnside 
that  his  Generals  were  unanimous  in  declaring  that  the  movement 
would  end  in  disaster.  Amazed  at  this  revelation  of  want  of 
confidence  in  himself  and  yet  aware  that  only  a  successful  movement 
could  restore  to  him  the  confidence  of  the  army  and  country,  he 
resolved,  three  weeks  later,  upon  a  mid-winter  movement  seven  miles 
above  Fredericksburg. 

Accordingly,  January  18,  brought  orders  for  several  days'  rations 
in  haversacks  and  a  movement  against  the  enemy  was  announced 
with  cheers.  Before  starting  an  order  was  read  from  General 
Burnside,  dishonorably  dismissing  from  the  service,  Lieutenant 
Kinney,  for  tendering  his  resignation  while  his  regiment  was  under 
orders  to  meet  the  enemy  and  for  expressing  therein  unsoldier-like 
and  treasonable  sentiments. 


MUD    MARCH    CAMPAIGN — BURNSIDE    RETIRES. 

On  January  20,  began  the  famous  "  Mud  March  "  of  Burnside. 
Up  to  this  time  the  roads  had  been  good,  but  a  deluging  rainstorm 
swamped  the  whole  Army  which  became  stuck  in  the  plastic  mud. 
Pontoon  wagons,  artillery  and  caissons,  and  trains  of  all  kinds  plunged 
axle  deep  into  the  miry  clay,  whence  they  could  be  scarcely  drawn  by 
any  effort  of  teams  and  men  with  ropes  combined.  All  were 
besmeared  with  the  adhering  soil.  The  enemy  opposite  discovered 
the  attempt  and  jocularly  offered  to  ''come  over  and  help  build  the 
bridges."  The  elements  this  time  spared  the  President  a  prohibition 
of  the  movement.  What  might  have  been,  but  for  these  natural 
causes,  it  is  idle  to  divine,  as  the  enemy  had  massed  his  artillery  and 
troops  opposite  for  a  desperate  resistance.  [For  map  of  march  see 
Chapter  VII.] 

From  a  letter  of  Chaplain  W.  C.  Way,  we  learn  the  movements 
of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  on  this  famous  march,  as  follows  : 

The  Twenty-fourth  broke  camp  at  noon  on  Tuesday,  January  20,  and  marched 
towards  Stoneman's  Switch  on  the  Acquia  Creek  railroad,  which  we  reached  at  9  P.  M., 
a  distance  of  twelve  miles.  Toward  evening  it  began  to  rain  and  when  we  had 
reached  the  railroad,  it  came  down  thick  and  fast.  Amid  storm  and  darkness  the 


112  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

regiment  filed  into  the  woods  and  bivouacked  for  the  night,  pitching  tents  by  the 
dim  light  of  a  distant  campfire.  Many,  tired  and  exhausted,  lay  on  the  ground  with 
nothing  but  a  blanket  and  rubber  to  protect  them,  sleeping  soundly  till  reveille. 
Soon  all  were  astir,  coffee  made,  the  plain  repast  eaten,  and  soon  in  line  of  march 
forward  —  and  such  a  march.  The  rain  had  made  sad  work  with  the  roads,  and  we 
pushed  forward  through  the  fields,  over  ditches  and  streams  whose  banks  were 
overflown,  for  four  miles,  when  at  i  o'clock,  we  encamped  in  a  dense  pine  forest 
near  the  enemy.  The  scenes  on  the  march  defy  description.  Here  a  wagon  mired 
and  abandoned;  there  a  team  of  six  mules  stalled,  with  the  driver  hallooing  and 
cursing;  dead  mules  and  horses  on  either  hand  —  ten,  twelve  and  even  twenty-six 
horses  vainly  trying  to  drag  a  twelve-pounder  through  the  mire.  At  midnight  on  the 
22d,  orders  came  to  march  back  to  camp  at  8  o'clock  the  next  morning,  where  we 
arrived  at  5  o'clock  P.  M.  of  the  23d,  and  found  it  occupied  by  the  Twenty  fifth  Ohio, 
who  made  us  comfortable  for  the  night  and  moved  out  the  next  day. 


Hundreds  of  soldiers  were  employed  for  two  days  in  building 
corduroy  roads  by  which  the  trains  were  finally  extricated  and  the 
Army  returned  to  winter  quarters.  The  lack  of  confidence  in  the 
Commander  after  the  disaster  at  Fredericksburg,  was  accentuated  by 
this  abortive  movement  and  on  January  23,  he  issued  an  order  of 
dismissal  from  the  service  of  several  of  his  Generals  who  had  indulged 
in  criticisms  of  his  movements,  which  was  overruled  by  the  President, 
upon  which  General  Burnside  resigned  the  command  of  the  Army 
and  issued  the  following  address: 


HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC, 
CAMP  NEAR  FALMOUTH,  January  26,  1863. 

By  direction  of  the  President  the  Commanding  General  this  day  transfers  the 
command  of  this  Army  to  Major-General  Joseph  Hooker.  The  short  time  that  he  has 
directed  your  movements  has  not  been  fruitful  of  victory  or  any  considerable 
advancement  of  our  lines,  but  it  has  again  demonstrated  an  amount  of  courage, 
patience  aud  endurance  that  under  more  favorable  circumstances  would  have 
accomplished  great  results.  Continue  to  exercise  these  virtues.  Be  true  in  your 
devotion  to  your  country  and  the  principles  you  have  sworn  to  maintain.  Give  to  the 
brave  and  skillful  General  who  has  long  been  identified  with  your  organization,  and 
who  is  now  to  command  you,  your  full  and  cordial  support  and  co-operation,  and  you 
will  deserve  success.  In  taking  an  affectionate  leave  of  the  entire  Army,  from  which 
he  separates  with  so  much  regret  *  *  *  his  prayers  are  that  God  may  be  with 
you,  and  grant  you  continued  success  until  the  rebellion  is  crushed. 

MAJOR-GENERAL  BURNSIDE. 


WINTER    QUARTERS   AT   BELLE    PLAIN. 


DISCIPLINE,   FURLOUGHS,    ETC.  —  COWARDS   DRUMMED    OUT. 

The  recent  disastrous  failure  and  abortive  movements,  as  well  as 
changes  of  commanders,  produced  their  effect  upon  the  morale  of  the 
army,  and  there  was  considerable  despondency  or  dissatisfaction 
among  the  troops,  as  200  desertions  a  day  from  the  army  proved. 
During  the  "  Mud  March "  week,  twenty-five  members  of  the 

Twenty-fourth  were  reported 
"missing"  and  the  utmost 
vigilance  was  ordered  in  every 
regiment.  Camp  guards  were 
established,  and  roll  calls  were 
ordered  three  times  a  day.  On 
January  31,  a  detail  of  fifty 
men  under  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Flanigan  went  in  search  of 
"skedaddlers,"  and  three  days 
later,  after  a  circuit  of  fifty 
miles,  returned  with  ten  who 
were  apprehended  at  Port 
Tobacco  on  the  Potomac,  and 
several  citizens  who  were 
aiding  in  their  escape.  On 
February  i,  several  who  had 
"straggled"  were  publicly 
reprimanded  on  dress  parade, 
and  thus  this  evasion  of  duty 
was  promptly  squelched. 

Meantime,  Colonel  Morrow 
had  been  appointed  President 
of  a  General  Court  Martial  for 
the  Left  Grand  Division. 
Insubordination,  desertion  and 
cowardice  had  become  too 
common  among  officers  and 
men,  and  it  was  evident  that 

more  stringent  punishments,  even  the  extreme  penalty,  were  necessary 
as  deterrents  against  military  offenses.  Colonel  Morrow's  judicial 
experience  eminently  qualified  him  for  President  of  the  Court. 

Winter  quarters  brought  frequent  requests  for  furloughs.  An 
order  from  General  Hooker  limited  them  to  fifteen  days  each  and 


THE   WEARIED    SOLDIER   BOY. 


114  HISTORY   OF   THE    TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

but  two  for  each  100  men;  married  men  to  have  the  preference.  To 
obtain  a  furlough,  the  application  must  be  marked  "  approved  "  by  the 
Colonel,  who  passed  it  on  to  the  Brigade  Commander.  And  thus  it 
must  pass  through  five  headquarters.  Lucky  he  whose  request  would 
run  the  gauntlet.  Then  the  time  spent  in  going  and  returning  left 
little  of  the  time  to  be  with  friends  at  home.  But  sweet  it  was, 
however  brief. 

Frequent  details  from  the  Twenty-fourth  had  already  been  made 
for  artillery,  pioneer  and  ambulance  service,  and  February  7,  brought 
an  order  for  forty  men  for  Battery  B,  which  with  deaths,  discharges 
and  sickness,  perceptibly  diminished  its  ranks. 

A  Virginia  winter  is  a  make  up  of  a  variety  of  frost,  rain,  snow, 
slush  and  mud,  sandwiched  with  sunshine  and  heavy  gales.  One  day 
clear  and  mild,  the  next  a  fierce  cold  northeaster  sets  in,  with  a 
dashing  snow  storm  for  a  few  hours  which  turns  to  drizzling  rain, 
producing  a  knee  depth  of  red  clay  mud,  almost  impassable  for  man 
or  beast. 

The  men  backed  up  for  a  mile  or  more  the  necessary  fuel  through 
the  plastic  soil,  with  which  to  cook  their  food  and  warm  their  cabins. 
Several  musicians  enlivened  the  camp  with  violins  at  night.  Fresh 
potatoes,  soft  bread,  onions,  etc.,  were  issued  for  rations;  and  the 
winter  days  were  passed  with  the  usual  tours  of  drill  and  picket  duty. 
Several  ladies,  wives  of  officers,  graced  the  camp,  and  an  occasional 
friend  from  Wayne  county,  to  see  sick  ones.  Obtaining  the  difficult 
''pass"  restrained  more  from  coming. 

February  21  was  a  day  of  painful  interest,  in  the  execution  of 
court  martial  sentences  upon  seven  members  of  the  Brigade.  Its  five 
regiments  were  drawn  up  inclosing  a  hollow  square,  within  which  the 
offenders  were  brought  under  guard.  After  a  few  remarks  from 
General  Meredith,  their  sentences  were  read.  "  For  misbehavior 
before  the  enemy,  etc.,"  five  of  them  were  to  forfeit  all  bounty  and 
pay;  to  have  their  heads  shaved  and  be  drummed  out  of  camp.  The 
other  two  were  to  be  drummed  out  only.  One  of  the  latter  was  a 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  man.  The  "barberous"  part  of  the  program 
over,  the  regiments  were  drawn  up  in  two  lines  and  the  seven 
cowards,  with  uncovered  heads,  were  marched  between.  A  line  of 
guards  with  reversed  muskets  preceded  them,  and  closely  behind 
followed  a  guard  with  pointed  bayonets  but  a  few  inches  from  them. 
At  a  quickstep,  the  band  playing  the  "  Rogues'  March,"  the  disgraced 
men  were  sped  out  of  camp,  amid  the  scorn  and  contempt  of  their  late 
comrades,  a  cold  wind  blowing  upon  their  shaved  heads. 


WINTER    QUARTERS   AT   BELLE    PLAIN.  115 

REGIMENTAL  AND   BRIGADE   RESOLUTIONS. 

The  despondency  of  the  army  after  Fredericksburg  was  magnified 
in  some  sections  and  was  proving  a  weakness  to  the  Union  cause.  A 
distinctive  anti-war  party  had  arisen  in  the  North  to  oppose  every  war 
measure  of  the  government.  Clement  L.  Vallandigham,  a  member  of 
Congress  from  Ohio,  was  the  leader  of  this  faction.  They  flooded  the 
army  with  letters  encouraging  desertions,  and  discouraged  enlistments. 
Thus,  while  the  South  would  tolerate  no  division  of  sentiment  amongr 

o 

themselves,  the  North  had  not  only  the  rebellion  to  fight,  but  was 
annoyed  by  this  enemy  at  home.  To  counteract  the  impression  of 
apathy,  many  regiments  set  forth  their  sentiments  and  belief  in  the 
ultimate  triumph  of  the  Union  arms.  A  committee  consisting  of 
Captains  Edwards,  Gordon  and  Edwin  B.  Wight,  and  Lieutenants 
Hutchinson,  Yemans,  and  Colonel  Morrow  (all  Democrats  except 
Captain  Edwards),  drafted  some  resolutions  which  were  unanimously 
adopted  by  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  on  March  11,  as  follows: 

WHEREAS,  We  have  heard  with  astonishment,  that  a  feeling  is  fostered  in  the 
North  and  West,  adverse  to  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war,  and  believing  that  this 
feeling,  unless  checked  by  the  patriotism  of  loyal  citizens,  may  extend  until  the 
government  shall  be  compelled  to  make  peace  on  dishonorable  and  disastrous  terms, 
therefore 

Resolved,  I. —  That  a  settlement  of  this  war  on  any  other  terms  than  an 
unconditional  return  of  the  rebellious  states  to  their  allegiance,  shall  meet  our  united 
disapproval ;  that  as  the  only  way  to  secure  a  speedy,  lasting  and  honorable  peace, 
we  are  in  favor  of  the  government  using  its  vast  resources  in  a  vigorous  prosecution 
of  the  war  ;  that  we  discard  all  former  differences  of  party  or  sect  and  unite  with  the 
loyal  citizens  everywhere  in  restoring  our  blood  bought  union  to  the  high  prestige  it 
has  heretofore  held  among  the  nations  of  earth  for  guaranties  of  constitutional 
liberty  ;  that  we  have  seen  with  regret  and  indignation,  the  efforts  of  professing 
friends  of  the  government,  to  discourage  the  volunteer  soldier,  and  that  we  recognize 
no  difference  between  such  traitors  and  those  in  armed  rebellion. 

2. —  That  the  law  for  the  enrollment  of  the  National  forces  meets  our 
approbation  ;  that  every  citizen  owes  allegiance  to  the  National  Government,  and  if 
able-bodied  men,  not  justly  exempt  from  military  service,  are  so  base  as  to  refuse 
their  support  to  the  government  when  called  for  under  the  Supreme  Law  of  the  land, 
we  shall  be  ready  to  meet  their  resistance  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet. 

3. —  That  we  not  only  feel  but  know  that  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  is  neither 
"disorganized"  nor  "demoralized,"  but  at  this  moment  is  as  efficient  in  discipline  as 
any  army  in  the  world. 

A  few  days  later,  General  Meredith  rode  over  to  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  camp.  The  bugle  was  sounded  and  the 
men  assembled  without  arms.  He  stated  that  they  were  called 
together,  not  to  obey  orders,  but  to  vote  upon  a  set  of  Iron  Brigade 


Il6  HISTORY   OF   THE  TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN. 

resolutions,    and    each   soldier  was  invited  to   vote  as   he   felt.     The 
resolutions  were  as  follows: 

WHEREAS,  Certain  evil  minded  persons  in  the  army  and  at  home,  have 
circulated  slanderous  reports  as  to  the  demoralization  of  this  army,  a  report  circulated 
by  Northern  traitors  to  justify  their  own  wicked  designs,  and  that  we  are  in  favor  of 
peace  on  any  terms.  To  refute  a  slander  so  insulting  to  us  as  soldiers  and  citizens, 
we,  the  members  of  the  IRON  BRIGADE,  do  resolve  : 

I. — That  we  denounce  such  reports  and  emphatically  declare  that  there  are  no 
men  in  our  ranks  but  would  blush  at  a  dishonorable  peace,  or  sacrifice  their  all  for 
the  maintenance  of  our  constitution,  the  integrity  of  our  country  and  the  crushing  out 
of  the  rebellion. 

2. — That,  toilsome  as  soldier  life  may  be,  and  much  as  we  long  for  the  society 
of  our  families  and  the  endearments  at  home,  we  feel  it  our  duty  to  carry  on  this  war 
to  the  bitter  end,  and  whatever  the  consequences  to  ourselves,  do  not  desire  peace 
until  the  last  rebel  in  arms  has  vanished  from  our  soil. 

3. — We  warn  our  friends  at  home  to  beware  of  the  traitors  in  their  midst, 
and  never  forget  that  the  first  duty  of  a  good  citizen  and  true  patriot  is  a  maintenance 
of  his  rightful  government,  and  submission  of  all  personal,  political  or  social  interests 
to  the  great  common  cause.  The  blood  of  thousands  of  our  friends,  already  sacrificed 
upon  the  altar  of  our  country,  cries  aloud  to  you  to  follow  their  glorious  example 
and  fill  the  thinned  ranks  of  an  army  which  will  never  submit  to  an  inglorious  peace. 

4. — The  safety  of  our  country  lies  in  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war  until  the 
last  rebel  in  arms  is  subdued,  and  the  stars  and  stripes  float  over  every  inch  of 
territory  of  the  United  States. 

5. — We  endorse  the  late  Congressional  militia  law  and  hope  that  the  grumblers 
at  home  may  have  an  opportunity  of  shouldering  the  musket  and  understand  that  no 
neutrality  can  exist  in  the  present  struggle,  and  that  they  must  "fight,  pay  or 
emigrate." 

6. — That  we  recognize  the  administration  as  the  government  de  facto  and 
endorse  all  its  acts  or  measures  having  for  their  object  the  effectual  crushing  out  of 
this  rebellion. 

The  resolutions  were  adopted  with  such  a  tremendous  "  aye," 
that  it  sent  the  horses  of  the  General  and  his  staff  plunging  away 
from  the  thunder  of  half  a  thousand  voices,  cheering  for  Generals 
Meredith  and  Hooker,  and  for  the  Union. 

CAMP   EVENTS  —  BADGES  —COMPLIMENTS. 

April  I,  1863,  found  the  regiment  still  in  winter  quarters,  and 
likely  to  continue  so  until  the  roads  should  permit  a  move.  The 
reports  showed  the  regiment  to  be  in  excellent  order,  in  discipline, 
drills,  arms,  clothing,  health  and  patriotic  ardor.  There  were  present 
for  duty  619  men  and  officers;  present  sick,  55.  No  paymaster  had 
been  seen  for  five  months.  The  men  tenderly  enclosed  the  regimental 
burial  ground  with  a  neat  post  and  rail  fence,  about  twenty-four  by 
forty  feet.  Some  resignations  were  made  about  this  time  for  bad 


WINTER    QUARTERS   AT   BELLE    PLAIN.  1 1/ 


MAJOR-GENERAL  JOSEPH    HOOKER. 


health  and  other  causes.  During  the  past  week  Governor  Morton  of 
Indiana  visited  the  camp.  The  bugle  assembled  the  men  who  were 
briefly  addressed  by  the  distinguished  visitor.  He  declared  for  "  War 
to  the  knife — no  compromise  with  traitors — the  Union,  the  whole 
Union,  and  all  for  the  Union." 

For  the  purpose  of  ready  recognition  of  the  divisions  and  corps, 
cloth  badges  were  ordered  to  be  sewed  on  the  caps  or  hats  of  every 
officer  and  man,  in  shape,  each  corps  as  follows:  First,  a  Sphere  or 
round  piece  ;  Second,  a  Trefoil ;  Third,  a  Lozenge ;  Fifth,  Maltese 
Cross ;  Sixth,  Greek  Cross ;  Eleventh,  Crescent ;  Twelfth,  Star.  In 
color — First  divisions,  Red;  Second  divisions,  White;  Third 
divisions,  Blue.  The  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  and  all  of  the  Iron 
Brigade  being  now  in  the  First  Division,  First  Corps,  their  distinctive 
badge  was  a  round  piece  of  red  woolen  cloth  sewed  to  their  hats. 

On  April  2,  the  First  Division  was  reviewed  by  General 
Wadsworth  and  General  Hooker.  On  the  3d,  the  Iron  Brigade  was 
complimented  in  general  orders,  as  follows : 

Soldiers  of  the  Iron  Brigade:  your  Commanding  General  takes  great  pleasure 
in  thanking  you  for  the  manner  in  which  you  appeared  upon  the  Review  yesterday. 
Your  soldierly  bearing  and  general  fine  appearance,  attracted  the  attention  of  the 
military  men  present,  winning  for  yourselves  the  highest  encomiums  from  all. 


Il8  HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

The  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  was  specially  complimented,  as 
follows :  , 

HEADQUARTERS  FOURTH  BRIGADE,  April  3,  1863. 
COLONEL  HENRY  A.  MORROW, 

Twenty-fotirth  Michigan  Volunteers. 

COLONEL  —  While  feeling  more  than  gratified  with  the  conduct  of  my  command 
at  the  Review  yesterday,  I  cannot  refrain  from  expressing  the  extreme  pleasure 
afforded  me  by  the  manner  in  which  your  Regiment  conducted  themselves  on  that 
occasion.  The  cool  courage  displayed  by  them  when  first  under  fire  upon  the  plain  of 
Fredericksburg,  had  led  me  to  expect  much  of  them,  but  that  they  should,  in  the 
short  time  that  has  elapsed  since  they  entered  the  service,  be  able  to  compare  so 
favorably  with  the  veteran  troops  with  whom  they  are  associated,  was  not  expected. 
Their  soldierly  conduct  and  bearing,  efficiency  in  drill,  and  the  discipline  displayed  by 
them,  richly  entitles  them  to  the  position  they  now  hold  in  the  Iron  Brigade.  It  gives 
promise  that  a  glorious  future  awaits  them.  Accept,  Colonel,  for  yourself  and  men, 
my  sincere  thanks. 

S.   MEREDITH,  Brigade-General. 

A  day  or  two  later,  there  was  a  cavalry  review  near  Falmouth,  at 
which  Colonel  Morrow,  Acting-Major  E.  B.  Wight  and  other  officers 
of  the  Twenty-fourth  were  present.  The  review  over,  the  officers 
were  presented  to  the  President  and  General  Hooker.  The  latter 
remarked  to  Colonel  Morrow : 

Oh,  we  are  old  friends.  I  noticed  your  regiment  the  other  day  ;  it's  a  splendid 
regiment ;  IT'S  AS  FINE  AS  SILK. 

The  above  compliment  was  well  deserved,  for  no  officers  had 
labored  harder  to  make  a  regiment  excellent  in  discipline.  Then 
there  was  a  commendable  rivalry  between  the  companies  as  to  which 
should  be  best  drilled,  have  brightest  guns,  etc.  It  received  a  daily 
inspection,  the  right  wing  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Flanigan,  and  the 
left  by  Acting-Major  E.  B.  Wight.  Besides,  the  Twenty-fourth  being 
the  only  Michigan  troops  in  the  First  Corps,  it  was  determined  to 
sustain  the  honor  of  the  State. 

REVIEW   BY   PRESIDENT   LINCOLN. 

On  Thursday,  April  9,  1863,  the  First  Corps  was  reviewed  by 
President  Lincoln,  General  Hooker  and  staff.  Chaplain  Wm.  C.  Way 
thus  described  the  occasion  at  the  time  : 

The  day  was  fine  and  at  ten  o'clock  the  whole  corps  was  in  reviewing  .position. 
The  batteries  were  in  rear  of  the  troops  en  masse.  Uniforms  were  clean,  guns  bright 
as  new,  and  equipments  in  fine  condition.  At  two  o'clock  the  booming  of  cannon 
announced  the  approach  of  the  cavalcade,  our  Battery  B  doing  the  honors  of  the  day. 


WINTER    QUARTERS   AT   BELLE    PLAIN.  119 

Looking  to  the  left  we  saw  a  cloud  of  dust,  and  all  eyes  were  bent  in  that  direction. 
The  expected  ones  round  a  curve  in  the  road  and  gallop  past  us.  President  Lincoln 
was  mounted  on  a  splendid  bay,  richly  caparisoned,  while  General  Hooker  rode  his 
pet  gray  on  his  left.  They  were  followed  by  a  host  of  officers  in  gay  uniforms,  and 
these  in  turn  by  lancers  with  fluttering  pennants,  a  troop  of  orderlies  galloping  after. 
In  the  crowd  we  noticed  Master  '  Tad  '  Lincoln  and  his  orderly. 

Having  reached  the  right  of  the  column  the  cortege  rode  down  the  front  in 
review.  The  numerous  banners  dipped  gracefully,  the  banners  playing  while  the 
bugles  sounded  their  nourish  of  greeting.  The  President  rode  down  the  front  with  head 
uncovered.  He  next  took  a  position  with  the  generals  in  front,  and  then  commenced 
the  almost  ceaseless  tramp  of  the  regiments  by  him,  like  waves  of  the  sea.  As  each 
regiment  passed,  its  banners  were  dipped  gracefully,  which  was  acknowledged  by  the 
President  by  lifting  his  'hat.  Mrs.  Lincoln  accompanied  the  President,  riding  in  a 
carriage  drawn  by  four  bays.  The  affair  passed  off  in  fine  style,  and  must  have  been 
gratifying  to  the  Chief  Magistrate.  The  general  bearing  of  the  troops  was  excellent, 
and  the  Iron  Brigade  was  not  excelled  by  any  other,  while  the  Twenty-fourth  won 
golden  opinions.  The  marching  of  the  regiment  was  splendid  and  fully  deserved  the 
high  compliment  paid  it  by  General  Meredith  on  April  3d.  My  position  was  just  in 
rear  of  the  President  and  reviewing  officers,  and  such  that  I  noticed  each  regiment 
in  the  entire  corps,  and  especially  those  of  the  Iron  Brigade.  No  regiment  had 
brighter  guns,  cleaner  accoutrements,  or  tidier  men  than  the  Twenty-fourth. 


A  SOLDIER'S  LETTER  ON  CAMP  AFFAIRS. 

As  the  spring  advanced,  mild  weather  and  good  roads  appeared. 
The  peach  trees  were  now  in  bloom  and  all  nature  was  gay.  On 
Sunday,  April  12,  1863,  Peter  C.  Bird  of  D  wrote  from  Camp  Isabella, 
to  the  author,  describing  camp  affairs  as  follows : 

We  have  fine  times  here  now — inspection  every  morning  and  Sundays  twice. 
The  men  have  to  turn  out  with  boots  blacked,  clothes  brushed  and  besides  that  the  two 
cleanest  and  neatest  men,  and  the  two  dirtiest  and  most  slovenly  in  each  company, 
have  their  names  read  on  dress  parade.  So  we  have  a  chance  to  get  our  names  up 
now. 

We  had  another  scene  this  morning.  Ira  F.  Pearsoll  of  H,  who  deserted  last 
fall  while  we  lay  in  the  woods  near  South  Mountain,  was  caught  at  Grand  Rapids, 
Michigan,  about  three  months  ago  and  sent  here  under  guard.  He  was  tried  by  court 
martial  and  sentenced  to  be  dishonorably  discharged  with  forfeiture  of  all  pay  due  or 
to  become  due,  which  was  a  very  slight  punishment  and  he  thought  so  too,  and 
boasted  and  danced  around  all  day  yesterday  which  provoked  Captain  Merritt  so  that 
this  morning,  the  time  he  was  to  leave,  the  Captain  formed  the  company  at  open 
ranks  and  surrounded  him  with  twelve  bayonets,  and  the  band  behind  him,  and 
marched  him  all  around  the  regiment,  the  band  playing  the  "  Rogues'  March."  As 
he  passed  between  our  regiment  and  the  Nineteenth  Indiana,  Captain  Merritt  ordered 
him  to  take  off  his  hat,  but  he  refused.  So  it  was  taken  off  for  him.  Our  regiment 
followed,  hissing  and  jeering  him  half  way  to  the  Landing. 

William  H.  Ingersoll,  of  H,  was  discharged  with  him  for  desertion,  also.  The 
regiment  is  disposing  of  its  cowards  pretty  fast.  Colonel  Morrow  comes  it  over  them 


I2O 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


so  he  gets  their  sentences  lightened  considerably.  In  the  other  regiments  they  shave 
their  heads,  but  the  Colonel  works  as  hard  to  help  them  from  being  disfigured  as 
though  it  was  his  own  person.  He  seems  to  feel  worse  than  the  prisoners  themselves 
and  cries  while  their  sentences  are  being  read. 

April  14  brought  orders  to  make  ready  to  move  at  any  moment. 
Knapsacks  were  inspected  and  all  extra  clothing  and  tents  of  officers 
turned  in,  the  latter  taking  the  common  shelter  tents  like  the  men. 
On  the  I5th,  a  heavy  rain  storm  set  in,  continuing  all  night.  On  the 
2oth,  the  first  division  was  ordered  out  for  marching  drill,  but  the 
storm  prevented.  The  night  of  the  2ist  brought  new  orders  to  make 
ready  to  move  at  once. 


"  TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN  "   IN   BIVOUAC.  — SKETCHED   BY   H.   J.    BROWN  OF  THE  REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER    VII. 


CHANCELLORSVILLE  CAMPAIGN. 


PORT    ROYAL   EXPEDITION. 

JUST    as   the    Twenty-fourth    Michigan    were    finishing   their 
dinners  on   Wednesday,    April    22,    1863,    an  order  came  to 
turn  out  forthwith  with  three  days'  rations  and  blankets,  and 
in  fifteen  minutes  they  were  on  the  parade  ground  in  light 
marching  order,  all  expectant  as  to  where  they  were  going.     But  no 
matter,  anything  and    anywhere,    for  a  change    was  welcomed    with 
enthusiasm.     General    Reynolds,  commanding   the    First    Corps   had 
sent    the    following   order    to  General    Wadsworth,  commanding  the 
First  Division  : 

You  will  detail  two  picked  regiments  to  march  to  Port  Conway,  at  once,  with 
the  pontoon  train,  so  as  to  arrive  there  to-night,  keeping  out  of  sight  of  the  opposite 
shore  of  the  river.  You  will  direct  the  officer  in  command  to  throw  a  regiment  or  part 
of  one,  over  in  the  boats,  and  sweep  through  the  town  of  Port  Royal  opposite, 
capturing  all  the  enemy  he  can  pick  up  and  then  return.  I  will  suggest  that  Colonel 
Morrow  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  be  sent  in  command. 

The  troops  selected  were  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  and 
Fourteenth  Brooklyn  (Zouaves),  with  one  piece  of  Battery  B,  under 
Lieutenant  Stewart.  The  latter  rode  "  Old  Bob  Tail "  which  had 
been  in  the  Battery  for  sixteen  years.  His  tail  had  been  shot  off 
entirely  in  battle,  and  whenever  he  heard  the  roar  of  cannon,  he 
wheeled  around  so  as  to  face  the  music.  For  a  full  account  of  this 
animal  the  reader  is  referred  to  Chapter  XXI. 

At  2  o'clock  the  expedition  was  under  way.  Generals  Reynolds 
and  Wadsworth  accompanied  Colonel  Morrow  about  half  the  distance. 
The  weather  was  fine,  but  the  roads  yet  bad.  King  George  Court 
House  was  passed  and  the  vicinity  of  Port  Conway  reached  at  10 
o'clock  at  night,  the  regiment  bivouacking  in  an  open  field.  Port 
Conway  was  about  eighteen  miles  down  the  Rappahannock  from 
Falmouth.  The  river  is  about  350  yards  wide  at  this  point.  This 
was  the  birthplace  of  President  Madison,  and  the  ruins  of  the  house 
where  he  was  born  still  remained. 

(121) 


122 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


It  commenced  raining  at  mid-night  and  continued  hard  all  the 
next  day.  At  early  dawn,  amid  the  drenching  rain,  the  pontoon 
boats,  thirteen  in  all,  were  put  together  and  carried  to  the  river  bank. 
They  were  composed  of  a  light,  pine  skeleton,  over  which  a 
water-proof  canvas  was  drawn.  A  detail  of  twenty-five  men  for  each 
boat  was  called  for,  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  furnishing  its  quota 
of  200  by  volunteers,  all  under  the  immediate  command  of 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Flanigan.  The  boats  were  filled  and  the  men 
pulled  for  the  opposite  bank. 

This  twilight  scene  was  grand,  somewhat  like  the  Revolution 
event  of  Washington  crossing  the  Delaware.  No  floating  ice  impeded 
their  progress,  but  a  vague  uncertainty  prevailed.  A  view  of  the 


MAP  OF  MUD  MAECH  AND  PORT  ROYAL  EXPEDITION. 


opposite  shore  showed  numerous  rifle  pits  of  great  extent  from  which 
might  blaze  a  shower  of  bullets  or  cannon  balls.  As  they  neared  the 
bank  what  had,  in  the  fog,  appeared  to  be  a  regiment  in  line,  was  but 
a  palisade  fence. 

Up  by  the  defenses  the  men  passed  and  swept  through  the 
streets  of  Port  Royal,  an  ancient  borough  of  colonial  days.  A  few  of 
the  inhabitants  came  out,  but  soon  rushed  back  to  their  houses  and 
fled  with  a  few  hurriedly  packed  up  effects.  Two  bodies  of  cavalry 
made  off  at  high  speed,  about  seventy-five  men  in  all,  but  not  a  hostile 
shot  was  fired.  The  town  was  depopulated  of  whites,  the  furniture 
in  the  houses  remaining  as  they  left  it.  The  "  contrabands,"  as  the 


CHANCELLORSVILLE   CAMPAIGN. 


123 


slaves  were  known  by  since  the  war  began,  were  full  of  joy  and 
afforded  all  information  they  could.  Several  white  females  wept 
profusely,  but  being  assured  that  no  harm  would  be  done  them, 
exclaimed  :  "  Thank  God  for  that." 

A  wagon-train  was  seem  making  fast  out  of  town,  but  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Flanigan  took  a  cross  street  and  appeared  before  the  wagon- 
master  unawares.  He  was  called  upon  to  halt,  but  not  being  disposed 
to  do  so,  the  sight  of  a  well-aimed  "  Spencerian  "  rifle  stopped  the 
train.  The  wagons  with  their  contents  of  grain  and  meal  were  burned 
and  the  best  animals  taken. 

After  thoroughly  searching  the  town  and  obtaining  what 
information  they  could,  the  expedition  re-crossed  the  river  with  six 


CROSSING  THE  RAPPAHANNOCK  AT  PORT  ROYAL,  BY  VOLUNTEERS  FROM  THE  "TWENTY-FOURTH  MICHIGAN" 
AND  FOURTEENTH  BROOKLYN  —  SKETCHED  BY  H.  J.  BROWN  OF  THE  "TWENTY-FOURTH  MICHIGAN.1' 

prisoners,  fifteen  horses  and  mules,  a  rebel  mail  and  two  loyal  lady 
refugees  detained  there.  The  captured  animals  were  swum  over  the 
river  behind  the  returning  boats.  One  mule  braced  his  feet  against 
the  bottom  of  the  stream  before  deep  water  was  reached  and  stopped 
the  boat.  He  was  let  loose,  but  being  headed  for  the  opposite  shore, 
swam  over  of  his  own  accord,  and  the  men  were  there  to  receive  him 
upon  his  arrival. 

(9) 


124  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Stonewall  Jackson,  with  about  6000  men,  lay  encamped  five  miles 
back  of  the  town  and  the  enemy  appeared  in  force  and  fired  upon  the 
last  boat  as  it  was  being  taken  from  the  water,  but  without  injury  to 
anyone.  Camp  was  reached  at  dark,  the  men  weary  and  tired.  At 
headquarters  it  was  deemed  a  hazardous  undertaking  and  there  was 
joy  in  camp  upon  their  return  without  accident.  The  expedition 
acquitted  itself  with  credit,  as  the  following  from  Major-General 
Reynolds  will  show : 

The  general  commanding  takes  occasion  to  thank  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan 
and  Fourteenth  Brooklyn  for  the  prompt  manner  in  which  they  accomplished  the 
object  of  the  expedition  to  Port  Royal.  The  endurance  shown  by  their  march  of 
nearly  thirty-six  miles  in  twenty-four  hours,  during  the  very  inclement  weather  of 
yesterday,  proves  their  valor  as  tried  and  experienced  soldiers,  and  entitles  them  to 
the  highest  admiration  and  praise." 

The  next  day  was  one  of  hilarious  enjoyment  among  the  men, 
each  of  whom  had  his  story  to  tell.  All  felt  happy,  as  it  was  the  first 
"outing"  they  had  had  since  the  "Mud  March."  This  expedition 
was  simply  the  prelude  to  more  important  movements  in  the  spring 
campaign  thus  opened. 

THE   SITUATION  —  FITZHUGH    CROSSING. 

For  four  months  the  opposing  armies  had  faced  each  other  on 
the  Rappahannock — Lee  with  70,000  men  on  the  Fredericksburg 
side,  and  Hooker  with  120,000  on  the  Falmouth  side.  The  last  of 
April,  1863,  Hooker  resolved  upon  a  flank  movement  to  compel  the 
enemy  to  fight  outside  of  his  strong  intrenchments,  or  move  south. 

The  Rapidan  flows  into  the  south  side  of  the  Rappahannock, 
about  twelve  miles  above  Fredericksburg.  The  United  States  Ford 
is  about  a  mile  below  the  mouth  of  the  Rapidan.  Bank's  Ford  is 
about  midway  between  U.  S.  Ford  and  Falmouth.  Kelly's  Ford  is 
about  twenty-five  miles  above  Falmouth.  South  of  Kelly's  Ford, 
twelve  miles,  is  Germanna  Ford  and  the  mouth  of  the  Rapidan. 

Hooker's  plan  was  to  cross  a  few  of  his  forces  three  or  four  miles 
below  Fredericksburg  to  draw  the  attention  of  the  enemy  ;  meanwhile, 
to  move  the  bulk  of  his  army  up  to  Kelly's  Ford,  thence  south  to 
Germanna  Ford,  across  the  Rapidan,  and  place  it  in  the  rear  and  flank 
of  Lee,  compelling  the  latter  to  abandon  his  strong  position  which  he 
had  so  successfully  held  against  Burnside's  attempt.  Wadsworth's 
Division  of  the  First  Corps,  in  which  was  the  Iron  Brigade,  was  a  part 
of  the  troops  selected  to  make  the  feint  below  Fredericksburg. 


CHANCELLORSVILLE   CAMPAIGN.  12$ 

At  noon  of  Tuesday,  April  28,  1863,  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan 
bade  farewell  to  Camp  Isabella,  their  winter  home,  and  marched  away 
to  the  southwest,  bivouacking  at  night  about  two  miles  south  of 
White  Oak  Church.  At  1 1  P.  M.  the  regiment  was  aroused  for  march. 
It  reached  the  Rappahannock  at  day-break,  four  miles  below 
Fredericksburg,  near  the  Fitzhugh  House,  on  the  2Qth.  Fitzhugh 
Crossing  where  the  First  Division  was  to  be  thrown  over  was  near  by. 

About  5  o'clock,  under  cover  of  a  dense  fog,  the  pontoon  train 
was  run  down  to  the  bank  of  the  river  and  the  first  attempt  made  by 
engineers  to  unload  the  boats  drew  the  fire  of  the  enemy  from  the 
opposite  bank.  The  darkey  drivers  unhitched  their  teams  and  went 
up  the  bank  of  the  river  to  the  rear  and  out  of  reach  of  the  enemy's 
guns,  as  if  Satan  was  after  them.  A  few  of  the  boats  had  been 
unloaded  and  pushed  into  the  stream.  The  enemy's  fire  became  so 
hot  that  the  engineers  and  train  guard  had  to  leave  the  boats  and  fall 
back. 

The  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  and  Sixth  Wisconsin  were  ordered 
•down,  and  taking  position  on  the  river  bank,  kept  up  a  fire  across  the 
river  for  some  time  in  the  fog.  When  the  fog  began  to  rise  and  the 
•dim  outlines  of  the  enemy's  works  came  into  view,  these  two 
regiments  were  ordered  back  about  300  yards  to  a  less  exposed 
position.  During  this  part  of  the  engagement,  Joseph  Coryell  of  F 
was  killed. 

Further  attempts  to  unload  the  boats  and  lay  the  bridge  while 
the  fog  lasted  proved  equally  unsuccessful.  It  being  evident  that  the 
bridge  could  not  be  laid  unless  the  enemy  were  driven  from  the  rifle 
pits,  a  storming  party  was  organized  to  cross  the  river  in  open  boats 
and  drive  the  enemy  from  their  intrenched  position  at  the  point  of 
the  bayonet. 

This  seemed  more  of  a  forlorn  hope  than  the  famous  crossing  of 
the  Seventh  Michigan  at  Fredericksburg.  The  heights  opposite  were 
more  impregnable  and  manned  with  more  troops.  The  river  at  this 
point  was  wider.  The  bank  to  be  charged  up  was  steeper,  it  being 
almost  impossible  to  climb  it,  as  the  undergrowth  was  very  thick,  and 
the  enemy  had  formed  an  abatis  by  felling  trees  with  the  tops  down 
the  hill.  The  rifle  pits  were  manned  with  a  brigade  composed  of  the 
Sixth  Louisiana  and  Twentieth  Alabama,  arid  three  other  regiments. 

The  storming  party  consisted  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  and 
Sixth  Wisconsin,  while  three  companies  of  the  Second  Wisconsin 
were  detailed  to  run  the  pontoon  wagons  down  the  bank  and  launch 
the  boats.  All  being  ready,  with  a  ringing  yell,  off  rushed  the 


126 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


storming  party  on  the  double-quick,  down  the  bank  to  the  boats,  and 
a  moment  later,  amid  a  terrific  fire,  were  pulling  for  the  opposite 
shore,  using  poles  and  the  very  butts  of  their  guns  for  oars.  A 
landing  effected,  up  the  difficult  bank  they  charged  amid  the  blaze  of 
musketry  to  the  very  rifle  pits,  which  they  scaled,  and  completely 
routed  the  enemy  within,  killing  several  and  capturing  103  prisoners,, 
including  a  Lieutenant-Colonel  and  two  other  officers,  as  well  as  all  of 
the  cannon. 


FITZHUGH  CROSSING. — "TWENTY-FOURTH  MICHIGAN"  AND  "SIXTH  WISCONSIN"  CROSS  THE  RAPPAHANNOCK 
IN  BOATS  AND  CARRY  THE  OPPOSITE  HEIGHTS.  SKETCHED  BY  H.  J.  BROWN  OF  THE 
TWENTY-FOURTH  MICHIGAN. 

The  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  was  in  the  lead,  its  flag  landing 
first,  though  there  is  a  dispute  as  to  which  regiment  belonged  the  boat 
first  to  land.  It  matters  not.  It  was  a  neck  and  neck  race,  between 
two  friendly  regiments  of  the  Iron  Brigade,  in  a  hazardous  and 
brilliant  movement,  and  there  were  bullets  and  glory  enough  for 
both.  Just  seven  minutes  elapsed  from  the  time  the  Twenty-fourth 
unslung  knapsacks  until  they  had  scaled  the  heights  and  the  task  was 
completed,  a  most  daring  achievement  that  won  favorable  notice 
from  the  whole  division. 

Meanwhile,  General  James  S.  Wadsworth  swam  his  horse  across 
the  Rappahannock  and  riding  his  dripping  steed  in  front  of  the 
regiment  which  had  just  been  drawn  up  in  line,  took  off  his  cap,  which 
had  been  perforated  with  two  of  the  enemy's  bullets,  and  exclaimed  : 

"  God  bless  the  gallant  Twenty-fourth  Michigan.     God  bless  you  all." 


CIIANCELLORSVILLE   CAMPAIGN.  I2/ 

After  the  crossing,  the  boats  were  sent  back  after  the  rest  of  the 
Iron  Brigade,  who  lost  no  time  in  following  up  their  comrades.  The 
bridges  were  laid  and  the  rest  of  the  division  crossed,  occupying  the 
lower  part  of  the  Fredericksburg  battle-field  of  December  13,  1862. 

As  soon  as  the  bridge  was  completed,  the  Iron  Brigade  moved  to 
the  left  to  prevent  a  flank  movement  of  the  enemy,  and  formed  in 
oblong  square,  near  the  edge  of  some  woods  that  lined  the  river  bank. 
The  left  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  rested  on  the  Rappahannock, 
the  regiment  at  right  angles  with  the  river.  On  its  right,  and  parallel 
with  the  river,  was  the  Nineteenth  Indiana,  aligned  and  joined  to 
which  were  the  Second  and  Seventh  Wisconsin,  while  the  Sixth 
Wisconsin  extended  at  right  angles  with  the  right  of  the  Seventh  to 
the  river.  Around  this  parallelogram  was  a  ditch  in  which  the  men 
took  shelter  for  the  night.  The  enemy's  pickets  were  in  full  view, 
but  by  agreement  under  a  flag  of  truce  sent  in  by  the  enemy,  there 
was  no  picket  firing. 

The  next  day,  April  30,  the  men  hastily  threw  up  breast-works 
as  a  protection  against  musketry,  putting  in  all  the  farming 
implements  on  the  plantation  —  mowers,  reapers,  plows,  drags, 
fanning  mills,  etc.  Everything  went.  While  so  engaged,  the  enemy 
kept  up  a  lively  shelling  from  5  to  7  P.  M.  which  was  vigorously 
replied  to  by  our  batteries  across  the  river.  A  solid  shot  killed  Sergeant 
Asa  Brindle  of  B,  and  Sergeant  John  Tait  of  G,  and  wounded  two 
others.  As  soon  as  night  came,  the  men  went  to  work  in  good 
earnest  and  by  daylight  on  Friday  morning,  May  1st,  had  a  line  of 
intrenchments  strong  enough  to  resist  solid  shot  and  shell.  The  two 
Sergeants  that  were  killed,  were  buried  within  the  lines  of  the 
intrenchments  with  appropriate  religious  services,  conducted  by 
Private  Willian  R.  Graves,  a  "local  preacher"  of  the  Methodist 
Church. 

During  the  regiment's  tarry  here  the  old  battle-ground  of 
December  13  was  visited  and  the  bodies  of  Lieutenant  Birrell  and 
Sergeant  Wight,  of  K,  were  removed  to  the  north  side  of  the  river. 
In  January  previous  a  request  was  made  under  a  flag  of  truce  for  the 
enemy  to  allow  the  friends  of  Lieutenant  Birrell  to  remove  his  body, 
but  General  Lee  refused  the  request.  All  day  Friday  the  men  lay 
behind  their  breastworks,  there  being  no  firing  from  the  enemy.  At 
night,  orders  came  to  make  ready  to  march. 

On  Saturday  morning,  May  2,  the  Iron  Brigade  was  up  and  had 
breakfasted  at  4  o'clock.  At  7  o'clock  they  received  a  lively  shelling 
from  a  battery,  which  was  soon  after  silenced  by  our  battery  over  the 


128  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

river.  Soon  after  the  recrossing  of  the  river  began.  The  men' 
crawled  out  of  their  pits  and  down  the  hill  to  the  river  bank,, 
unobserved,  and  then  came  back  again  in  full  view  of  the  enemy, 
giving  them  the  idea  that  we  were  receiving  reinforcements.  Again 
the  enemy  opened  fire  with  large  caliber  guns  from  the  heights  and 
kept  it  up  until  our  last  man  was  safely  across  the  river. 

During  the  recrossing,  the  colored  servant  of  Lieutenant 
Witherspoon  had  gone  across  the  pontoon  leaving  his  pack-mule 
hitched  to  a  stake  on  the  south  bank.  Prevented  by  the  sentinels 
from  crossing  to  get  the  mule,  he  very  excitedly,  amid  the  dropping 
of  the  enemy's  shells  around,  yelled  out,  "Tie  dat  mule  loose!  tie  dat 
mule  loose!"  Presently  a  shell  cut  away  the  stake  to  which  he  was 
tied  and  the  men  rolled  the  mule  over  the  bank  into  the  river.  He 
swam  across  and  was  received  by  the  darkey  driver,  to  the  merriment 
of  the  men. 

The  pickets  of  the  Iron  Brigade  were  the  most  exposed  and  last  to 
come  over  the  river.  Company  H  of  the  Twenty-fourfh  was  deployed 
as  skirmishers  on  the  left,  the  left  of  the  company  resting  on  the  river 
about  500  yards  below  the  works.  Lieutenant  Grace  was  in  command 
of  the  company  at  the  time.  Orders  came  to  retire  the  skirmishers, 
as  the  troops  had  crossed  the  river.  Lieutenant  Dodsley  could  run 
faster  than  Lieutenant  Grace  and  so  ran  to  the  left  and  ordered  the 
men  back  who  ran  for  the  works.  About  half  a  dozen  men  with 
Lieutenant  Dodsley  had  to  take  to  the  bank  of  the  river  which  was 
covered  with  underbrush.  When  they  arrived  at  the  crossing  the 
bridge  was  taken  up  and  a  boat  left  for  them  to  cross  in,  Lieutenant 
Dodsley  being  the  last  man  to  get  into  the  boat.  Some  prisoners 
during  the  assault  on  the  rifle  pits,  recognized  their  captors  as 
Twenty-fourth  men  and  said :  "  You  boys  crossed  at  Port  Royal  the 
other  day  and  are  not  afraid  of  anything." 

The  following  were  the  casualties  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan 
at  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  April  29  and  30,  1863: 

KILLED   ON   THE    BATTLEFIELD: 

Sergeant  Asa  W.  Brindle,   .     .     .     B         Forest  C.  Brown C 

Sergeant  John  Tail G         Joseph  Coryell, F 

DIED    OF   WOUNDS: 
William  H.  Jamieson,  foot  amputated, G 

WOUNDED : 

First  Lieutenant  GEORGE  W.  BURCHELL,  shoulder,    .     .     .     G 

Sergeant  George  W.  Haigh,  wrist D 

Sergeant  Shepherd  L  Howard,  arm D 


WILLIE  YOUNG,  DRl'MMER  BOY,   YOUNGEST  MEMBER 
OF  THE  REGIMENT. 


CHANCELLORSVILLE   CAMPAIGN.  131 

Herman  Blankertz,  foot,     ...     A  Richard  Downing D 

Thomas  A.  Wadsworth,  foot,    .     .  A  Aldrich  Tovvnsend,       .      .     .     .  D 

Leander  Bauvere,  arm,              .     .      B  Andrew  Waubec,  leg,     .      .     .     .  E 

Richard  Conners,  head     .     .      .     .    B  James  D.  Shearer,  hand,  F 

John  M.  Doig,  foot. C  Henry  Robinson,  head,        .      .      .  G 

Hiram  W.  Hughes,  hand.     .      .      .   C  Joseph  Ruby,  face,       ...  H 

James  McKee,  arm,    .           .           .     C  John  L.  Stringham,  head,   ...  I 

Samuel  W.  Phillips,  foot,       .     .      .   C  Lilburn  A.  Spaulding,  arm,       .     .  K 
Ludovico  Bowles,  neck,       .      .     .    .  D 

Summary:  Killed  and  mortally  wounded,  5;  other  wounded,  20.     Total,  25. 

Our  losses  would  have  been  greater,  but  during  the  fog  the 
enemy  fired  at  random,  and  while  in  the  boats  the  shots  of  the 
enemy  passed  over  them  as  they  neared  the  opposite  bank. 


CHANCELLORSVILLE  —  STRATEGY  —  WITHDRAWAL. 

The  operations  about  Fitzhugh  Crossing  were  merely  a  ruse  to 
hold  the  attention  of  the  enemy  about  Fredericksburg  while  the 
greater  operations  of  the  army  were  to  occur  farther  away.  To  the 
First,  Third  and  Sixth  Corps  was  assigned  this  duty,  and  it  proved 
very  successful.  During  its  progress  the  rest  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  .marched  to  Kelly's  Ford,  thirty  miles  away,  thence  south  to 
the  Rapidan,  which  was  crossed  by  the  men  fording  the  stream  up  to 
their  armpits.  They  proceeded  to  Chancellorsville,  a  place  containing 
but  a  single  house,  about  ten  miles  a  little  south  of  a  direct  line  west 
from  Fredericksburg.  Here  they  were  joined  by  the  Second  Corps 
via  the  United  States  Ford  and  the  Third  Corps  also.  On  Friday 
morning,  May  1st,  five  corps  were  successfully  in  the  enemy's  rear, 
compelling  him  to  come  out  of  his  intrenchments  at  Fredericksburg. 
The  First  Corps  joined  the  flanking  column  on  Sunday,  May  3d. 

On  the  morning  of  the  1st,  Hooker  sent  out  columns  by  the 
river,  turnpike  and  plank  roads  to  meet  Lee,  over  whom  he  had 
secured  several  strategic  advantages  in  position,  surprise,  etc.  But  as 
soon  as  the  opposing  pickets  met  Hooker  ordered  his  forces  back  and 
began  to  fell  trees  that  night  for  an  abatis,  and  to  throw  up  rifle  pits, 
on  the  defensive,  though  having  a  greatly  superior  force  —  a  movement 
strangely  enigmatical  to  this  day.  Military  critics  aver  that  he 
frittered  away  a  golden  opportunity  for  victory. 

All  day  Saturday,  the  2d,  Hooker  lay  upon  the  defensive.  Now, 
it  was  Lee's  turn  to  flank.  While  engaging  Hooker  with  front 
demonstrations,  he  sent  "  Stonewall "  Jackson  with  22,000  men 


132 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


CHANCELLORSVILLE   CAMPAIGN.  133 

around  on  the  west  side  of  Hooker  and  suddenly  struck  his  right  at 
five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  completely  scattering  the  Eleventh 
Corps,  whose  fleeing  caused  a  panic.  General  Warren,  with  Hooker's 
old  division  and  fifty  pieces  of  artillery,  stemmed  Jackson's  advance 
after  dark.  On  Sunday  morning  the  First  Corps  (Reynolds')  took 
the  place  of  the  Eleventh  Corps. 

Soon  after  nightfall  the  intrepid  Confederate  leader,  "Stonewall" 
Jackson,  with  his  staff,  rode  forward  beyond  his  lines  to  make  a 
personal  reconnoissance,  and  when  they  turned  back  to  re-enter  their 
lines  the  party  was  fired  upon  by  their  own  pickets,  and  Jackson 
mortally  wounded.  And  thus  died  the  greatest  of  Lee's  generals. 
He  was  the  Phil  Sheridan  of  the  Southern  Army  —  a  bold,  dashing 
officer,  with  acuteness  to  comprehend  the  situation  in  an  instant,  and 
quickly  take  advantage  of  it.  He  was  noted  for  successful  flank 
movements,  and  though  his  soldiers  did  not  love  his  exacting 
discipline,  yet, it  was  their  boast  that  he  usually  gave  them  victory. 

Lee's  army  was  now  divided.  All  of  Hooker's  forces  but  the 
Sixth  Corps  under  Sedgwick  lay  between  Lee's  divided  forces. 
Sedgwick  was  still  below  Falmouth,  and  could  easily  have  joined  the 
main  body  via  the  United  States  Ford  without  the  loss  of  a  man,  and 
Hooker's  army  been  thus  united.  But  the  latter  ordered  Sedgwick  to 
occupy  Fredericksburg,  seize  Marye's  Height,  gain  the  plank  road  in 
the  rear,  and  join  the  main  body  that  way.  Early  Sunday  morning 
he  occupied  the  town,  formed  a  storming  column  and  gallantly  carried 
the  Height  at  the  cost  of  1,000  men.  He  then  started  for 
Chancellorsville  by  the  plank  road,  but  was  intercepted  by  Lee  at 
Salem  Heights  and  defeated  with  a  loss  of  4,000  more  men. 

Prior  to  Sedgwick's  fight  at  Salem,  Hooker's  main  force  was 
being  transferred  to  a  new  line  of  defense  back  of  Chancellorsville, 
nearer  the  fords  of  the  river,  in  which  movement  a  part  of  the  main 
force  was  badly  punished  by  Lee,  who  then  turned  and  defeated 
Sedgwick  in  his  rear,  and  the  next  day,  May  4,  drove  him  across  the 
Rappahannock.  Sedgwick's  corps  thus  being  eliminated  from  the 
battle,  Lee  turned  back  on  Tuesday,  May  6,  to  strike  Hooker's  main 
force  again.  But  during  the  night,  Hooker  withdrew  all  his  army 
across  the  river,  leaving  behind  its  killed  and  wounded  and  fourteen 
pieces  of  artillery,  not  to  mention  thousands  of  small  arms. 


134  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

MOVEMENTS    OF   THE   IRON   BRIGADE   AND    TWENTY-FOURTH 

MICHIGAN. 

After  recrossing  the  Rappahannock  to  the  north  side  at 
Fitzhugh,  on  Saturday  morning,  the  Iron  Brigade  moved  up  the 
river  a  mile  and  lay  near  the  Sixth  Corps  in  the  open  field  until 
T  I  o'clock.  It  was  near  Franklin's  Crossing  to  the  Fredericksburg 
field  in  December  preceding.  The  Sixth  Corps  had  been  helping  the 
ruse  at  this  point.  The  Iron  Brigade  then  passed  up  the  river  via 
Falmouth,  having  a  most  beautiful  view  of  Fredericksburg  and  the 
hills  beyond,  the  heights  still  frowning  with  confederate  batteries. 
The  march  was  continued  for  seventeen,  miles  along  the  river  road  to 
the  Catlett  road,  thence  to  Hartwood  church,  and  bivouacked  at 
10  o'clock  at  night  near  United  States  Ford.  At  2  o'clock  the  next 
morning,  Sunday,  May  3,  they  crossed  the  Rappahannock  at  United 
States  Ford,  and  taking  the  Ely  Ford  road  for  four  miles,  reached  the 
battlefield  of  Chancellorsville  at  6  o'clock. 

The  Iron  Brigade  took  position  just  behind  the  Pike  leading  from 
Fredericksburg  up  to  Ely's  Ford,  forming  the  second  line  of  battle. 
Syke's  Regulars  were  directly  in  front  behind  some  breast-works  which 
they  were  throwing  up.  A  terrible  artillery  firing  began  early  in  the 
morning  and  lasted  until  noon.  The  Fifth  Maine  Battery  lost  all  its 
horses.  The  Irish  Brigade,  by  hand,  drew  off  their  guns.  During  the 
afternoon,  General  Hooker  and  staff  rode  by.  He  recognized  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  and  said,  "You  are  the  boys  that  crossed  at 
Port  Royal."  The  fighting  was  very  severe  during  the  day,  but  the 
Twenty-fourth  being  in  the  reserve,  had  but  one  man  wounded, 
Thomas  Burns  of  F.  One  of  its  men  was  also  wounded  in  Battery  B, 
Thomas  D.  Ellston  of  E. 

On  Monday,  May  4th,  a  flattering  compliment  was  paid  to  the 
Twenty-fourth  on  the  battle-field.  By  some  oversight,  the  right  flank 
of  the  Federal  Army  had  been  left  exposed.  The  two  roads  leading 
from  United  States  Ford  on  the  Rappahannock  to  Ely's  Ford  on  the 
Rapidan.  had  been  left  unguarded,  so  that  the  enemy  might  easily  cut 
off  the  Army  from  its  pontoons.  In  the  monrning,  an  Aide  of 
General  Reynolds  reported  this  state  of  things  to  General  Hooker, 
who  was  silent  for  a  moment.  He  compressed  his  lips  as  if  in  deep 
thought,  and  then  said;  "Tell  General  Reynolds  to  "send  the  best 
regiment  he  has  to  guard  the  roads.  Tell  him  to  send  Colonel 
Morrow  and  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan." 

The  regiment  moved  on  its  mission  to  the  extreme  right  within  a 
mile  of  the  Rapidan  near  Hunting  Creek,  where  it  barricaded  the 


CHAXCELLORSVILLE   CAMPAIGN.  135 

roads.  Company  A  was  deployed  as  skirmishers  in  front  and  B  to 
the  extreme  right  near  the  Rapidan.  On  Tuesday,  May  5th,  H  and 
three  other  companies  were  taken  still  further  to  the  right  where  they 
formed  an  abatis,  threw  up  earthworks  and  lay  on  their  arms  at  night. 
The  position  of  the  regiment  was  dangerous,  but  honorable.  A 
terrible  thunder  storm  came  up  which  lasted  thirty-six  hours, 
saturating  the  men's  clothes  and  greatly  swelling  the  rivulets  and 
streams. 

When  the  withdrawal  of  the  army  began,  the  Twenty-fourth 
Michigan  seemed  to  have  been  forgotten  while  out  on  its  picket  duty. 
That  night,  General  Paul  of  the  Regular  Army  came  upon  the 
regiment  and  calling  Colonel  Morrow  out  of  his  "  dog  tent,"  informed 
him  that  he  was  the  last  man  except  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  on- 
the  field;  that  the  rest  had  all  gone  over  the  river!  The  pickets  were 
called  in  and  at  3  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  May  6th,  while  the  men 
were  leaning  against  trees,  trying  thus  to  keep  the  rain  off  and  get 
some  sleep,  the  regiment  quietly  marched  back  to  where  the  army  had 
been,  but  to  their  astonishment,  no  troops  could  be  seen,  and  the 
men  then  first  knew  that  it  was  a  retreat. 

For  miles  they  traveled  through  the  brush  until  they  came  in 
sight  of  our  troops  crossing  the  pontoons  at  the  United  States  Ford 
on  the  double-quick.  During  the  darkness,  five  companies  got 
separated  from  the  regiment  in  the  woods  and  were  supposed  to  be 
captured,  but  they  finally  came  up  all  right,  and  all  joined  the  rest 
of  the  Iron  Brigade  near  the  river.  In  the  haste  at  the  pontoons,, 
there  was  danger  of  a  panic  and  the  Iron  Brigade  was  ordered  back  to 
the  woods  once  more  to  build  fires  and  make  coffee,  thus  leaving  the 
rest  of  the  army  to  believe  that  there  was  no  danger  of  an  attack. 
At  9  o'clock  the  regiment  re-crossed  the  river,  being  the  last  troops  to 
leave  the  inglorious  field  of  Chancellorsville. 

All  day  the  regiment  marched,  considerably  despondent.  The 
rain  came  down  incessantly.  After  descending  precipices,  wading 
creeks  and  through  mud  knee  deep  for  fifteen  miles,  it  bivouacked  at 
night,  three  miles  from  Stoneman's  Station,  wet,  hungry  and  so 
fatigued  that  in  ten  minutes  the  men  fell  asleep  in  some  pine  woods, 
each  one  where  he  happened  to  be. 

COMMENTS  —  COMPLIMENTS. 

In  these  engagements,  including  the  crossing  below  Fredericksburg,. 
the  battle  of  the  Sixth  Corps  at  Marye's  Height  and  at  Salem 
Heights,  Lee  reported  an  aggregate  loss  of  10,281  while  the  aggregate 


136 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


Union  loss  was  16,030.  And  thus  another  inglorious  chapter  was 
added  to  the  history  of  the  Union  arms.  We  have  neither  space  nor 
heart  to  dilate  upon  the  want  of  Generalship  that  allowed  70,000 
Confederates  to  outmaneuver  and  rout  120,000  Union  men.  There 
was  not  an  hour  from  the  beginning  of  this  movement  to  its  close,  when 
victory  was  not  within  the  grasp  of  the  Union  commander,  but  sad 
to  say,  it  was  frittered  away  completely  by  an  inexcusable  imbecility. 
Oh,  for  a  leader  for  the  Army  for  the  Potomac ! 

On  May  Qth,  General  Wadsworth,  in  general  orders,  commended 
the  recent  gallantry  of  the  Iron  Brigade,  as  follows: 

The  General  commanding  deems  it  proper  to  express  his  thanks  to  Colonel 
Morrow,  (Twenty-fourth  Michigan),  and  Colonel  Bragg,  (Sixth  Wisconsin),  and  the 
gallant  men  under  their  command,  for  the  heroic  manner  in  which  they  crossed  the 
Rappahannock  and  seized  the  heights  on  the  opposite  shore,  on  the  2gth  of  April,  and 
to  the  whole  of  the  Brigade  for  the  promptness  with  which  they  followed,  on  this 
daring  enterprise. 

Commenting  on  which  the  Detroit  Tribune  said: 

We  had  faith  in  the  Twenty-fourth  before  they  left  us  ;  but  now,  what 
Detroiter  does  not  feel  his  bosom  heave  with  pride  as  he  reads  the  history  of  their 
heroism  and  the  acknowledgment  of  their  services  from  the  Commanding  General. 
Those  who  have  known  General  Wadsworth,  will  describe  him  as  a  man  of  great 
deliberation  and  very  few  words,  from  whom  a  line  of  praise  is  more  valuable  than 
volumes  from  others. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

FROM  CHANCELLORSVILLE  TO 
GETTYSBURG. 

CAMP   WAY  —  THE   FITZHUGH    ESTATE. 

BARLY     on    the     morning    of     May    7,    the    wearied     men 
continued  their  march  through  Falmouth  to  within  a  mile 
and  a  half  of  White  Oak  church,  and  encamped  on  a  rising 
knoll   in  an  old  orchard  on  the  Fitzhugh  estate,  near  the 
crossing  of  that  name.     It  was  a  most  beautiful  spot,  well  supplied 
with  wood  and  water,  and  by  far  the  pleasantest  camping  ground  of 
the  regiment  yet.     It  was  named  "Camp  Way,"  after  our  Chaplain. 

The  ten  days  of  marching  and  fighting  and  retreating  had  made 
camp  life,  with  its  routine,  welcome.  Company  streets  were  laid  out, 
graded  and  ornamented  with  evergreens  from  the  groves,  forming  fine 
walks  and  arbors.  And  here  the  men  gathered  about  the  camp-fires 
and  related  hair-breadth  escapes  from  lips  eloquent  with  patriotic 
inspiration.  The  regiment  had  added  new  laurels  to  its  history.  Its 
worn  and  tattered  flag  was  first  across  at  Port  Royal  and  at  Fitzhugh 
Crossing,  and  will  be  borne  in  the  van  while  a  shred  of  it  remains. 

This  Fitzhugh  estate  once  belonged  to  the  Washington  family, 
and  was  the  scene  of  the  youthful  George's  experiment  with  his 
hatchet  upon  the  cherry  tree,  which  historical  incident  gave  the  old 
house,  the  orchard,  and  broad  inter-vale  for  more  than  a  mile  from 
the  wood-crowned  bluff  of  the  Rappahannock,  an  additional  interest. 
The  buildings  were  now  untenanted  and  dilapidated,  and  the  once 
magnificent  garden  in  ruins.  It  was  near  the  crossing  where 
Washington,  when  a  young  man,  is  related  to  have  thrown  a  stone 
across  the  Rappahannock,  a  feat,  like  his  inability  to  tell  a  lie, 
considered  sufficiently  marvelous  for  historical  record  of  the  great 
man;  but  when  several  members  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan 
easily  performed  the  same  feat,  they  believed  that  the  youthful 
George's  ability  to  tell  the  truth  and  perform  this  stone  throwing  act 
was  not  at  all  remarkable. 

(i37) 


•138 


HISTORY  OF   THE  TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


CHUCK-OR-LUCK  —  FRIENDLY   PICKETS,    ETC. 

On  Sunday,  May  10,  the  Chaplains  of  the  Iron  Brigade  were 
endeavoring  to  re-establish  religious  services,  but  they  met  with  a 
counter-attraction,  as  the  following  facetious  request  of  Colonel 
Robinson  of  the  Seventh  Wisconsin  to  the  Assistant  Adjutant  of  the 
Iron  Brigade  will  show: 

Sir — There  is  a  large  crowd  of  soldiers  in  the  grove  below,  engaged  in  the 
interesting  game  called  "Chuck-or-Luck."  My  chaplain  is  running  his  church  on  the 
other  side  of  me,  but  "Chuck-or-Luck"  has  the  largest  crowd.  I  think  this  unfair,  as 
the  church  runs  only  once  a  week,  but  the  game  goes  on  daily.  I  suggest  that  one  or 
the  other  of  the  parties  be  dispersed. 


SOLDIKRS   PLAYING    CHUCK-OR-LUCK. 


This  game  which  had  such  a  fascination  among  the  soldiers,  was 
a  diminutive  system  of  gambling,  the  elements  of  which  too  often  are 
found  in  methods  adopted  by  churches  and  Sunday  schools  for  raising 
money  by  raffles  and  chance.  This  game  was  played  with  dice  or 
small  blocks  in  imitation.  Sometimes  it  was  played  on  a  board ; 
often  on  a  rubber  blanket  or  the  hard  ground.  Six  sections  were 
spaced  off,  each  numbered  in  order.  Two  soldiers  would  play  the 
game,  one  representing  the  "banker"  and  the  other  the  venturer. 
The  latter  would  choose  one  or  two  of  the  numbers  and  place 


FROM    CHANCELLORSVILLE   TO    GETTYSBURG.  139 

a  piece  of  money  on  each,  which  were  covered  by  the  "banker"  with 
an  equal  amount.  If  the  dice  thrown  gave  the  number  or  numbers 
chosen,  then  the  player  won  and  the  "banker"  lost.  If  the  dice 
failed  to  turn  up  the  numbers  chosen,  then  the  "banker"  took  all  the 
money.  The  chances  were  about  five  to  one  in  favor  of  the  latter. 
Soon  after  pay-day  this  game  had  a  great  run,  and  many  a  poor 
fellow's  two  month's  pay  was  gone  in  this  manner. 

This  game  was  sometimes  called  the  "  sweat  board,"  but  there 
were  other  games  by  night  in  some  tents  of  officers  of  the  army  where 
decks  of  "  sweat  boards  "  were  used  for  much  larger  amounts  at  stake. 
Early  in  its  service,  Colonel  Morrow  issued  stringent  orders  against 
the  practice  of  gaming  for  money  within  the  regiment. 

On  May  I3th,  our  ambulances  crossed  the  river  for  the  wounded 
left  behind  in  the  recent  battle.  The  enemy  was  full  of  exultation 
and  confidence.  That  night  the  Twenty-fourth  was  sent  out  on  picket 
for  forty-eight  hours,  along  the  Rappahannock.  The  enemy's  pickets 
were  very  friendly  and  conversation  was  continually  had  with  them. 
It  was  a  frequent  occurrence  to  see  the  opposing  pickets  swim  to  the 
middle  of  the  stream  and  exchange  coffee  and  tobacco.  They  had 
only  rye  coffee  and  no  sugar,  while  eggs  were  $3.50  a  dozen  in  their 
currency.  The  enemy  seemed  to  be  very  active  across  the  river  all 
day  on  the  I4th,  and  that  night  the  men  were  aroused  twice  from 
their  slumbers,  amid  a  terrible  thunder  shower. 

Returning  from  picket  duty  at  noon  of  the  I5th,  they  were 
regaled  in  the  afternoon  with  speeches  from  Senators  Chandler  of 
Michigan  and  Wade  of  Ohio,  who  were  on  the  committee  on  the 
Conduct  of  the  War,  and  were  doubtless  looking  up  the  causes  of  our 
recent  disaster. 

For  two  weeks  after  its  return  from  the  bloody  field  the 
Twenty-fourth  enjoyed  the  repose  of  its  pleasant  camp  amid  green 
fields,  fine  groves  and  stately  oak  forests.  An  abandoned  yoke  of 
oxen  were  brought  into  camp  and  used  to  haul  the  fuel  and  water  for 
the  Twenty-fourth.  They  were  general  favorites,  as  they  saved  the 
men  some  hard  lugging  of  those  necessary  articles.  A  few  weeks 
later,  when  the  army  started  North,  they  were  killed  for  beef. 

The  rest  for  the  Twenty-fourth  was  of  brief  duration.  Soon  after 
midnight  on  Thursday,  the  2 1st,  it  was  roused  up  and  ordered  to 
march  at  daylight,  with  three  days'  cooked  rations.  To  and  fro  the 
men  hurried,  filling  canteens  and  haversacks,  wondering,  and  asking 
each  other,  "What's  up  now?" 


I4O  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

WESTMORELAND   EXPEDITION. 

After  two  hours  of  busy  preparation,  the  stir  proved  to  be  an 
expedition  composed  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  Nineteenth 
Indiana,  Second  and  Sixth  Wisconsin  regiments  of  the  Iron  Brigade, 
about  1,200  men,  under  command  of  Colonel  Morrow.  Destination: 
King  George  and  Westmoreland  Counties.  Its  object  was  to  clear  the 


YOKE  OF  OXEN  FOUND  AT  CAMP  WAY  —  SKETCHED  BY  H.   J.    BROWN   OF  THE 
"  TWENTY-FOURTH  MICHIGAN." 

Northern  Neck  (as  the  Peninsula  is  called,  between  the  Potomac  and 
Rappahannock),  of  any  Confederate  troops  intercepting  the  Eighth 
Illinois  Cavalry  which  had  gone  down  a  few  days  before.  The 
following  is  Colonel  Morrow's  report  of  the  expedition : 

At  daybreak  on  May  2ist,  the  Expedition  marched  directly  for  King  George 
Court  House,  where  it  halted  for  dinner  ;  thence  to  Millville  where  we  arrived  before 
dark,  having  marched  twenty-eight  miles.  The  day  was  excessively  hot  and  many 
gave  out  from  exhaustion.  Resumed  march  at  daylight  of  22d  and  arrived  at  Mattox 
Creek  about  8  o'clock,  (seven  or  eight  miles).  The  bridge  over  Mattox  Creek  had 
been  destroyed  the  Sunday  before.  From  a  few  half-burned  planks  and  timbers, 
Captain  Ford  of  General  Wadsworth's  staff  and  Captain  Merritt  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
Michigan,  in  a  few  hours  with  a  working  party,  had  so  far  repaired  the  bridge  as  to 
allow  the  passage  of  Infantry  and  Cavalry.  These  officers  are  deserving  of  much 
credit  for  their  skill  and  efficiency.  Having  information  of  a  force  of  the  enemy  near 
Leesville,  opposite  Port  Micou,  I  resolved  to  march  to  that  place,  leaving  a  small 
detachment  with  Captain  Merritt  to  complete  the  bridge  and  guard  it.  I  marched  to 
Leesville,  scouring  the  country  on  both  sides  of  the  road  to  be  sure  the  enemy  did  not 
get  in  our  rear.  We  saw  no  rebels  and  arrived  at  Leesville  a  little  before  sunset,  a 
march  of  thirteen  miles.  We  bivouacked  for  the  night  behind  a  skirt  of  woods  out  of 
sight  of  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  I  picketed  the  river  and  attempted  to  burn  the 
boats  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  but  failed. 


FROM    CHANCELLORSVILLE   TO    GETTYSBURG.  141 

I  fired  a  few  rounds  across  the  river  at  a  squadron  of  Cavalry  doing  picket  duty 
about  Port  Micou.  After  the  first  volley,  the  Cavalry  quickly  withdrew  behind  a 
slight  rise  of  ground  in  rear  of  the  town,  leaving  not  a  picket  to  watch  our  movements. 
It  was  now  about  7  o'clock  Saturday  morning,  the  23d,  and  I  moved  the  column  down 
the  river  as  if  to  march  for  Leedstown,  three  miles  below,  but  after  marching  a  short 
distance,  I  turned  to  the  left  and  marched  for  Oak  Grove  to  intercept  any  rebels  that 
might  be  there.  I  sent  a  party  of  mounted  men  to  Leedstown. 

As  I  was  turning  to  leave  the  river,  I  saw  a  man  in  rebel  uniform  crossing  the 
field  and  evidently  making  for  the  water.  He  was  captured  and  proved  to  be 
Lieutenant  Col.  Critcher,  Fifteenth  Virginia  Cavalry.  The  column  halted  at  Oak 
Grove  a  little  after  noon  (8%  miles),  a  place  of  no  importance  except  it  is  the 
intersection  of  several  roads  on  Northern  Neck.  Early  Sunday  morning,  I  marched 
my  command  to  within  one  mile  of  Westmoreland  Court  House,  and  met  the  advance 
of  the  Eighth  Illinois  Cavalry  on  its  return,  with  an  enormous  train  of  wagons,  carts, 
horses,  mules  and  contrabands,  and  encamped  for  the  night,  after  a  march  of  eleven 
miles.  At  4  o'clock  in  the  morning  we  retraced  our  steps,  marching  fourteen  miles 
before  breakfast,  and  bivouacked  for  the  night  near  King  George  Court  House,  after 
a  march  of  twenty-nine  miles.  At  5  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  26th,  the  column 
resumed  its  march  and  reached  camp  near  White  Oak  Church,  at  noon  (21  miles), 
having  marched  130  miles  in  five  and  a  half  days. 

Besides  Colonel  Critcher,  the  captured  train  consisted  of  three 
confederate  officers,  fifty  prisoners,  five  hundred  horses  and  mules, 
one  thousand  slaves  of  all  ages  and  both  sexes,  and  a  large  quantity 
of  bacon  and  corn.  Besides  three  hundred  confederate  prisoners  were 
paroled.  The  country  was  bursting  into  vernal  greenness,  and 
was  a  marvel  of  beauty  and  fertility.  The  boys  lived  on  the  "  fat 
of  the  land,"  though  it  was  very  warm  and  dusty  and  many  of  them 
blistered  their  feet.  It  was  the  captured  Colonel's  cavalry  that 
retreated  from  Port  Royal  upon  the  advent  of  our  men  there  a  month 
before.  He  had  come  over  the  river  to  visit  his  family  ostensibly,  but 
really  to  plan  for  the  capture  of  our  cavalry,  which  the  arrival  of 
the  Iron  Brigade  prevented.  He  had  burned  the  Mattox  Creek  bridge 
and  was  hiding  in  the  grass  when  a  mounted  orderly  found  him.  It 
was  Captain  A.  M.  Edwards  and  six  men  who  volunteered  to  cross  the 
river  at  Port  Micou  aud  burn  the  two  boats.  The  pilot  steered  the 
wrong  way  and  they  were  discovered  and  driven  back.  Upon  their 
return,  the  column  passed  near  the  site  of  Washington's  birthplace, 
marked  only  by  fragments  of  a  chimney.  Upon  a  stone,  overgrown 
with  bushes,  is  the  inscription  :  "  Here  was  born  George  Washington, 
February  1 1,  1732." 

VISITORS— BLACK  HATS — REORGANIZATION,    ETC. 
Upon  arrival  in  camp  they  found   several   visitors  from   Detroit. 
The      following     evening,     May    2/th,     the     regiment      listened     to 
speeches    from    several    of    them — from    John    J.    Speed,    brother    of 

(10) 


142 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


Captain  Speed,  Rev.  F.  A.  Blades,  Henry  Barns,  and  a  "rouser"  from 
private  Jones  of  the  Sixth  Wisconsin.  The  regiment  was  this  day 
furnished  with  the  "Black  Hats"  peculiar  to  the  Iron  Brigade,  no 
other  troops  wearing  them,  making  their  appearance  like  their  name, 
quite  unique.  On  May  28,  Governor  Blair  and  his  wife,  also  David 
Preston,  of  Detroit,  visited  the  camp,  the  former  making  a  speech  on 
dress  parade.  On  May  30,  General  Reynolds  reviewed  the  First 
Corps,  and  the  next  day  the  regiment  went  on  picket.  It  witnessed  a 
review  of  twenty-five  regiments  of  the  enemy  on  the  old 
Fredericksburg  battle-ground,  which  betokened  a  mysterious 
something  brewing  among  them. 


ROUTE   OF   IRON  BRIGADE   ON  THE   WESTMORELAND   EXPEDITION. 

By  reason  of  the  expiration  of  the  terms  of  service  of  the  two 
years'  men  and  the  nine  months'  men,  the  First  Corps  had  been 
reduced  from  16,000  to  9,000  men,  the  smallest  in  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  There  was  a  consequent  re-arrangement  of  organizations 
and  the  "Iron  Brigade"  became,  after  June  1st,  1863,  the  First 
Brigade  of  the  First  Division  of  the  First  Corps,  which  gave  it  the 
honor  of  carrying  the  division  colors  —  a  large  white,  tri-angular  flag 
with  the  symbol  of  the  First  Corps  —  a  red  sphere  or  disc  in  the 
center.  If  all  the  Armies  of  the  United  States  were  in  one  line,  the 
Iron  Brigade  would,  now  be  on  the  extreme  right,  adding  the 
uniqueness  of  position  and  number  to  that  of  name  and  dress,  of  this 
now  celebrated  Brigade. 

Mysterious  movements  continued  across  the  river  and  midnight 
of  June  3d,  brought  moving  orders.  Tents  were  struck  at  daylight 


ft 

FROM    CHANCELLORSVILLE   TO    GETTYSBURG.  143 

and,  after  lying  around  till  eleven  o'clock,  orders  came  to  "  pitch 
tents "  again,  and  camp  routine  was  resumed.  The  enemy  seemed 
to  have  left  their  carryps  over  the  river,  leaving  a  strong  line  of  picket. 
The  next  afternoon,  a  part  of  the  Sixth  Corps  crossed  the  river  to 
reconnoitre,  capturing  300  prisoners.  Evening  brought  new  orders  to 
move  at  daylight  on  the  6th.  All  readiness  was  made,  wagons 
loaded  and  arms  stacked  on  the  parade  grounds  till  ten  o'clock,  when 
tents  were  again  pitched  and  camp  life  resumed. 

On  Sunday,  May  7th,  the  Seventh  Wisconsin  and  a  part  of  the 
Second  Wisconsin  were  sent  off  on  an  expedition  to  uncover  the 
movements  of  the  enemy.  A  few  days  later  they  struck  the  enemy 
near  Culpepper,  and  ascertained  by  this  event  and  captured  mails  that 
Lee  had  started  on  an  invasion  of  the  North.  The  defeats  of  the 
Union  Army  at  Fredericksburg  in  December,  1862,  and  recently  at 
Chancellorsville,  and  the  reduction  of»  Hooker's  Army  by  battle,  and 
departure  of  those  whose  enlistment  terms  had  expired,  to  less  than 
90,000  men,  not  to  mention  an  assured  hope  or  promise  of  foreign 
recognition  and  consequent  intervention  of  European  powers,  in  case 
of  a  successful  Northern  Campaign,  doubtless  induced  Lee  to  this 
bold  attempt. 

Thursday,  June  ilth,  brought  strict  orders  for  all  civilians  to 
leave  the  Army  at  once,  all  extra  baggage  to  be  sent  to  the  rear,  and 
the  men's  extra  luggage  reduced  to  the  lowest  possible  amount,  and 
be  ready  to  march  before  daylight  the  next  day.  Like  their 
departure  from  Camp  Isabella,  the  final  breaking  up  at  Camp  Way 
was  attended  with  much  interest,  both  because  of  the  pleasant 
location  of  the  camp  and  the  few  happy  weeks  spent  amid  the 
orchard  blossoms  of  the  vernal  months,  and  because  of  the  vague 
uncertainties  of  the  future.  There  was  an  exciting  campaign  before 
them  and  the  camp  that  night  was  one  of  unusual  anxiety. 

The  regiment  had  been  but  ten  months  in  service,  yet,  in  this 
brief  period,  it  had  been  occupied  almost  constantly  in  drill, 
expeditions,  forced  marches  in  rain  and  mud,  fighting  and  taking  its 
tours  of  picket  duty.  It  had  endured  hunger,  suffering,  and  all  the 
hardships  of  exposure  and  fatigues  of  army  life.  From  these  causes 
and  from  sickness,  death,  wounds,  disease,  promotions  and  details  to 
Battery  B,  pioneer  and  ambulance  service,  it  had  become  reduced  to 
nearly  one-half  its  original  number.  But  its  brilliant  record  had  won 
for  it  and  its  State,  a  proud  name.  The  Detroit  Tribune  thus 
mentioned  it  at  this  date : 


144  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

It  was  a  source  of  great  pleasure,  on  a  recent  visit  to  the  army,  to  find  that 
the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  had  earned  for  itself  in  that  vast  army,  an  honorable  and 
high  reputation  for  bravery  and  soldierly  bearing.  It  stands  among  the  highest  and 
is  considered  among  the  very  best  by  the  general  officers  of  that  army.  It  was  a 
pleasure  to  see  the  men  so  generally  hardy  and  ready  to  do  their  whole  duty. 

START   FOR   GETTYSBURG — MILITARY   EXECUTION. 

Sunrise  of  Friday  morning,  June  12,  found  the  regiment,  with  the 
Iron  Brigade,  well  away  from  Camp  Way.  The  line  of  march  was  up 
the  river  and  across  the  railroad  at  Stoneman's  Switch,  two  miles  from 
Falmouth,  out  of  sight  of  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  The  column 
moved  briskly,  although  the  heat  and  dust  were  oppressive.  At  noon 
it  reached  the  main  Barnett's  Ford  road  at  Berea  Church  and  halted 
for  an  hour's  rest  and  to  witness  the  death  penalty  upon  a  soldier  of 
the  Iron  Brigade  for  desertion  to  the  enemy.  Sergeant  Sullivan  D. 
Green  of  Company  F,  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  thus  described,  at  the 
time,  the  tragic  event  : 

This  day  is  to  witness  an  impressive  and  unusual  sight.  In  one  of  yonder 
ambulances  sits  a  young  man  under  strong  guard  whose  hours  on  earth  are  numbered. 
The  other  ambulance  carries  his  coffin.  He  is  going  to  his  execution.  Many  before 
him  have  been  pardoned  by  the  president,  but  he  will  not  be  thus  fortunate.  His  case  is 
an  aggravated  one.  He  has  been  tried  for  three  previous  attempts  at  desertion  and 
this  time  endeavored  to  pass  himself  off  at  the  court  martial  in  which  he  had  the  folly 
to  give  his  own  name,  and  place  of  birth,  and  also  claimed  to  belong  to  a  rebel 
regiment  of  the  same  number  as  that  to  which  he  really  belonged,  the  Nineteenth 
Indiana.  This  led  to  his  recognition  by  the  provost  marshal  who  had  a  full 
descriptive  list  of  the  prisoner.  He  was  found  guilty  and  sentenced  to  'be  shot  to 
death  with  musketry,  in  presence  of  the  division,  on  Friday  the  I2th  day  of  June  inst., 
between  12  M.  and  4  p.  M. 

At  about  2  o'clock  the  Iron  Brigade  led  the  column  into  a  field v  preceded  by 
the  prisoner  sitting  on  his  coffin.  In  silence,  three  sides  of  a  hollow  square  were 
formed.  The  coffin  was  placed  upon  the  ground,  the  prisoner  alighted  from  the 
ambulance  with  the  chaplain  who  held  a  few  moments'  converse  with  the  doomed 
man,  knelt  and  prayed  with  him,  and  then  withdrew  a  little  distance. 

The  detail  of  twelve  men  who  were  to  execute  the  sentence  were  ordered  out  in 
line,  when  General  Wadsworth  addressed  them  for  a  few  moments.  They  received 
their  instructions  and  moved  in  single  file  in  front  of  a  line  of  guards,  with  loaded 
musketry,  and  as  the  two  lines  faced  each  other,  the  muskets  were  taken  one  by  one 
from  the  guard  and  passed  to  the  detail  for  the  execution,  the  officer  inspecting  the 
lock  to  ascertain  if  it  was  in  good  condition.  They  were  then  marched  in  single  file 
in  front  of  the  coffin  and  about  ten  paces  distant. 

In  the  meantime,  from  a  desire  of  the  prisoner,  the  Chaplain  came  forward  the 
second  time.  Some  moments  were  spent  in  solemn  conversation  and  prayer,  both 
kneeling,  and  as  the  very  air  grew  still  with  the  hush  of  death's  angel  and  each  heart 
beat  of  the  thousands  standing  around  them  seemed  measured  by  minutes,  they  rose 
to  their  feet.  The  Chaplain  spoke  a  last  word  commending  a  fellow-mortal's  spirit  to 
God,  received  his  last  message,  pressed  his  hand  and  turned  away.  The  last  moment 
had  come. 


FROM    CHANCELLORSVILLE   TO    GETTYSBURG. 


145 


146  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

As  the  marshal  stepped  toward  him,  the  prisoner  took  off  his  hat,  placed  it  on 
the  ground,  and  as  he  turned  to  his  coffin  he  stood  face  to  face  for  an  instant  with  his 
executioners,  and  beyond  them  the  long  lines  of  his  comrades  who  gave  him  a  last, 
sad,  pitying  look.  However  just  and  necessary  the  penalty,  there  is  something  in 
such  a  moment  that  can  scarcely  be  felt  but  once,  and  that  at  such  a  time.  He  was 
calm  and  resigned;  moved  with  steady  step  to  his  coffin  and  sat  upon  it.  He  said  to 
the  marshal  that  he  would  rather  not  have  his  arms  pinioned  or  his  eyes  blindfolded, 
as  he  was  not  afraid  of  the  death  he  was  about  to  meet,  but  if  it  was  according  to 
custom  he  would  not  object. 

He  took  his  last  look  of  earth.  Whether  his  thoughts  were  there  or  elsewhere, 
God  only  knows.  The  day  was  most  beautiful,  and  the  summer's  sun  in  its  warmest 
brightness  fell  around  him.  The  field  was  green  and  wavy  in  its  verdure.  It  was- 
the  last.  A  handkerchief  was  placed  over  his  eyes,  and  his  arms  and  legs  were 
bound.  Then  only,  a  slight  shudder  passed  through  him.  His  shirt  was  ripped  open 
and  his  breast  made  bare.  All  was  ready.  At  the  command  "attention,"  the  usual1 
word  of  caution  or  preparation,  they  were  to  fire.  The  hat  was  lifted — 10,000  eyes 
were  strained  in  one  breathless  gaze  —  it  was  lowered,  and  many  eyes  withdrew  from 
the  sight  that  was  to  follow.  The  report  of  arms  was  heard  and  a  lifeless  body  fell 
backward  to  the  dust ! 

A  comrade  had  died  at  the  hands  of  his  fellow  soldiers  by  the  same  death  he 
feared  to  meet  in  the  ranks  of  patriotism.  He  had  cravenly  deserted  them  in  the 
hour  of  danger  and  had  now  paid  the  penalty.  Better  had  he  died  amid  the  carnage 
of  the  deadly  field  and  won  a  heroic  fame;  better  had  he  borne  a  maimed  and 
shattered  body  through  his  waning  years;  better  have  nobly  done  his  duty  and  been 
honored  as  one  of  his  country's  best  defenders  in  her  need  !  The  division  marched 
by  the  corpse,  the  burial  detail  struck  their  spades  into  the  earth;  the  body  limp  and 
bleeding,  with  four  bullet  holes  through  the  heart,  was  placed  in  the  coffin,  the 
column  moved  forward  to  the  dusty  road  on  its  march,  and  we  leave  each  to  his  own 
reflections. 


The  young  man  up  to  an  hour  before  his  death  expected  to  be 
pardoned,  as  had  been  done  so  often  in  other  cases  of  the  death 
sentence,  and  as  the  Army  was  on  the  march  this  expectation  was 
increased.  But  the  Lieutenant  in  charge  of  the  guard  informed  him 
that  he  must  surely  die  that  day,  when  his  demeanor  assumed  a  more 
serious  aspect.  Doubtless  then  his  mind  turned  towards  friends 
with  a  regret  that  he  had  not  performed  the  whole  duty  of  a  soldier. 
William  Smith  of  Company  B  was  one  of  his  guards  that  day.  Thomas 
Nixon  of  B,  and  Joshua  Minthorn  of  C,  were  on  the  detail  from  the 
Twenty-fourth  to  do  the  shooting  which  was  done  by  a  selection  of 
men  from  the  different  regiments  of  the  Iron  Brigade.  The  provost 
marshal  informed  the  shooting  party  that  the  man  must  be  killed  and 
that  it  was  better  for  each  one  to  take  good  aim  and  kill  him  instantly 
than  to  wound  and  only  half  kill  him.  They  were  told  that  one  gun 
of  the  twelve  was  empty  or  filled  with  a  blank  cartridge,  and  each  man 


FROM    CHANCELLORSVILLE   TO    GETTYSBURG.  147 

of  the  detail  might  suppose  himself  to  have  that  gun.  It  was  a  most 
melancholy  experience  for  all  who  saw  it  and  one  that  none  could 
desire  to  witness  again. 

FORCED    MARCH   TO    CENTERVILLE. 

After  the  execution,  the  column  moved  at  a  quick  pace  to  Deep 
Run  and  encamped  at  the  mill  near  the  Junction  of  the  Warrenton 
and  Barnett's  Ford  roads,  the  Twenty-fourth  advancing  half  a  mile  in 
support  of  the  picket  line.  The  men  recognized  the  right-hand  road 
as  the  one  they  marched  down  last  fall  from  Warrenton  to 
Fredericksburg.  The  face  of  the  country  robed  in  its  summer  dress 
appeared  finer  than  the  hard  trodden  barriers  of  Stafford  Heights. 

At  daylight  on  Saturday  morning,  June  13,  the  regiment  marched 
on  through  Grove  Church,  halting  an  hour  at  "Cool  Spring;"  thence 
four  miles  to  Morrisville,  places  with  scarce  half  a  dozen  houses  each.* 
Few  houses  are  required  in  Virginia  for  towns  of  high  sounding 
names.  They  frequently  have  but  one  street,  the  road  that  passes 
through  them.  Moving  on  through  Bealton  Station,  they  halted  for 
the  night  two  miles  beyond,  at  Liberty  Church. 

Six  o'clock  Sunday  morning,  June  14,  found  the  column  again 
advancing,  halting  for  a  brief  rest  at  Germantown,  the  birthplace  of 
Chi^f  Justice  Marshall.  This  section  bears  'the  name  of  "  Effingham 
Forest"  after  Lord  Effingham  of  colonial  times.  Another  march 
brought  the  regiment  to  Warrenton  Junction  at  2  P.  M.  where  a  halt 
was  made  for  "  coffee,"  which  favorite  beverage  being  swallowed,  a 
quick  pace  was  taken  through  Catlett's  to  Kettle  Run,  within  a  mile 
of  Bristow  Station.  It  was  after  dark,  but  only  a  brief  halt  was 
allowed  for  supper. 

Colonel  Morrow  informed  the  men  that  it  was  necessary  to  go 
forward  still  further  that  night,  as  it  was  a  question  of  speed  whether 
they  or  the  enemy  would  first  reach  the  Centerville  Heights.  All 
day  the  weather  was  hot  and  roads  dusty,  many  falling  out  of  the 
ranks  exhausted  and  sinking  to  the  ground.  For  three  miles  before 
the  halt  for  supper  at  Kettle  Run,  the  men  became  frantic  for  water, 
as  there  was  none  save  now  and  then  in  some  mudhole  or  slimy  frog 
marsh. 

Crossing  Kettle  Run  after  an  hour's  halt,  by  stepping  from  stone 
to  stone  in  the  darkness,  and  later  in  the  night  Broad  Run  also,  in  the 
glare  of  torches  and  bonfires  on  the  bank,  by  an  improvised  bridge  of 
rails,  they  marched  all  night  and  reached  Manassas  Junction  just  before 
sunrise  on  Monday  morning,  June  15.  The  night  march  was  tedious, 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN. 


THE   MARCH   FOR  GETTYSBURG. 


FROM    CHANCELLORSVILLE   TO   GETTYSBURG.  149 

though  but  for  the  need  of  sleep  not  so  exhausting  as  in  the  heat  of 
day.  The  halt  for  breakfast  was  made  on  the  very  spot  beside  the 
Manassas  railroad  track  where  the  rest  of  the  Iron  Brigade  made  their 
morning  meal  after  retreating  from  the  bloody  field  of  Gainesville, 
August  29,  1862.  They  had  remained  on  the  field  till  midnight  to 
bury  their  dead,  but  ere  the  task  was  done  had  to  retire,  and  at 
sunrise  halted  on  this  spot. 

After  a  rest  of  four  hours,  the  Iron  Brigade  passed  on  over  the 
plains  of  Manassas,  by  the  fortificatins  and  Beauregard's  headquarters. 
Yonder  earthworks  command  the  wide  plain  sloping  towards  the 
heavy  timber  that  fills  the  Bull  Run  valley.  Dark  and  gloomy  seem 
their  depths  and  over  tree  tops  can  be  seen  the  Heights  of  Centerville, 
six  miles  beyond,  which  form  the  outposts  of  the  defenses  of 
Washington,  twenty-five  miles  away. 

Captain  A.  M.  Edwards  pointed  out  the  little  grove  where,  with 
500  fellow  prisoners,  he  passed  the  first  night  of  his  ten  months' 
captivity  in  Dixie.  The  regiment  entered  the  woods  and  halted  for 
dinner  at  Blackburn's  Ford  sufficiently  long  for  the  men  to  take  a 
needed  bath  in  the  waters  of  the  now  historic  Bull  Run.  At  this  Ford 
occurred  the  first  encounter  of  the  war  between  the  northern  and 
southern  troops.  The  Second  and  Third  Michigan  Infantry  opened 
the  contest.  Crossing  the  Ford,  the  regiment  proceeded  to  Centerville, 
where  it  arrived  at  3  P.  M.,  encamping  southeast  of  the  village, 
seventy-five  miles  from  Falmouth.  Here  the  men  learned  the  exciting 
news  of  the  invasion  of  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  by  Lee's  army. 

NORTHWARD    MARCH   TO    PENNSYLVANIA   LINE. 

After  resting  till  daylight  of  Wednesday  17,  the  column  marched 
towards  Leesburg.  The  weather  was  terrible,  but  the  men  stood  it 
well  until  obliged  to  retrace  their  steps  a  mile  or  two  on  the  wrong 
road,  when  their  spirits  and  power  of  endurance  waned  under  this 
depressing  influence.  They  could  march  well  through  woods  wh,ere 
not  a  breath  of  air  stirred,  or  along  fields  under  rays  of  a  burning  sun, 
but  this  useless  marching  greatly  discouraged  them,  as  an  exhausting 
march  is  more  dreaded  than  the  deadly  fight.  The  regiment  went  but 
little  further  that  day,  and  crossing  the  Alexandria  &  Loudon  Railroad 
near  Herndon,  halted  to  rest  in  an  open  field  amid  springs  of  clear 
water,  after  a  march  of  ten  miles. 

Thursday,  the  i8th,  was  a  day  of  rest.  Copious  showers  of  rain 
fell  that  night  and  the  next  day,  the  first  rainfall  for  six  weeks.  At 
1 1  o'clock  on  the  I9th,  the  column  moved  four  miles  up  the  railroad 


150  HISTORY  OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

towards  Leesburg,  to  Broad  Run  and  bivouacked  near  Guilford 
Station,  Loudon  County,  Virginia.  All  Saturday  and  Sunday,  the 
2 1st,  the  men  lay  under  arms  ready  to  move.  Heavy  firing  was  heard 
in  the  direction  of  Ashby's  Gap.  It  was  our  Cavalry  annoying  Lee's 
troops  on  their  way  north.  Lee  had  been  transferring  his  forces  via 
the  Shenandoah  Valley  towards  Maryland,  and  Hooker  had  carefully 
kept  the  Union  Army  between  Lee  and  Washington. 

On  Monday,  the  22d,  Colonel  Morrow  dismissed  the  commissioned 
officers  to  the  camp  and  put  non-commissioned  officers  in  their  places 
for  a  drill.  Several  stepped  forward  and  successfully  put  the  regiment 
through  the  battalion  evolutions,  much  to  their  credit.  While  halting 
here  for  a  week,  the  men  had  a  good  rest  before  the  terrible  events 
soon  to  be  unfolded  to  history,  and  many  a  poor  boy  wrote  his  last 
letter  home. 

After  an  all  night's  rainstorm,  the  Iron  Brigade  marched  at  8 
o'clock  on  Thursday  morning,  the  25th,  crossed  the  Potomac  at 
Edwards'  Ferry  on  pontoons,  and  proceeding  through  Poolsville, 
Maryland,  bivouacked  at  dark  at  Darnesville  near  Sugar  Loaf 
Mountain.  A  most  beautiful  sight  was  a  large  school  of  children  at 
Poolsville,  who  gazed  upon  the  soldiers  as  they  marched  by.  One 
cannot  imagine,  without  experience,  the  cheerful  feeling  such  a  sight 
induces  among  those  who  have  not  for  months  witnessed  this  feature 
of  civilization.  This  reminder  of  home  brought  tears  to  many  an  eye 
of  those  accustomed  to  hardships  of  the  campaign.  The  soldiers  were 
welcomed  all  along  the  route,  by  fair  women  and  glad  children  who 
hailed  their  protectors  from  war's  devastation. 

Early  Friday  morning,  June  26th,  the  column  wound  its  way 
over  Sugar  Loaf  Mountains  by  a  very  rough  road,  through  heavy 
woods,  into  the  valley  of  the  Monocacy,  which  was  crossed  at 
Greenfield  Mills  by  a  bridge  256  feet  long.  It  rained  all  day,  which 
made  disagreeable  roads,  but  averted  the  heat  of  the  sun.  Two  miles 
further  on  the  Iron  Brigade  halted  for  dinner,  when  a  farmer  dolefully 
inquired  of  General  Meredith,  if  the  men  were  burning  his  rails  by 
Meredith's  orders.  The  General  told  him  that  the  men  must  cook 
their  coffee,  and  if  he  was  a  loyal  man,  the  government  would  pay 
him  all  damages.  The  country  was  inexpressibly  beautiful  with  its 
fields  of  waving  grain  nestling  on  the  mountain  sides  and  in  the  valley, 
the  views  from  the  summits  being  most  grand.  Crossing  the  range, 
the  regiment  encamped  one  mile  south  of  Jefferson,  about  six  miles 
below  Middletown. 


THE   MARCH  TO  GETTYSBURG. 


152  HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

On  Saturday  the  27th,  a  further  march  of  six  miles  was  made  up 
the  Valley,  encamping  two  miles  northwest  of  Middletown,  where  the 
Iron  Brigade  halted  till  3  P.  M.  on  Sunday,  June  28th,  when  the  long 
roll  beat  and  the  troops  marched  across  the  mountain  to  Frederick 
City,  eight  miles,  by  a  rough  road  north  of  the  National  Road, 
through  Shookstown.  On  Monday,  June  2Qth,  the  march  lay  through 
Lewiston,  Catoctin,  Furnace,  Franklinsville  and  Mechanicstown, 
(the  latter  overflowing  with  patriotism  and  hospitality) — to 
Emmitsburg.  At  this  place  was  located  St.  Joseph's  Academy,  under 
charge  of  the  Sisters  of  Charity,  who  in  the  course  of  this  war  were 
ministering  angels  to  our  sick  and  wounded  comrades.  On  the  25th, 
Captain  A.  M.  Edwards  was  ordered  to  Alexandria,  to  bring  back 
convalescents  for  the  First  Corps.  He  rejoined  the  Army  at 
Frederick,  Maryland,  with  1,219  °f  this  class,  on  the  29th. 

Leaving  Emmitsburg  behind  on  Tuesday,  June  30,  the  Iron 
Brigade,  with  the  Sixth  Wisconsin  in  advance,  crossed  the 
Pennsylvania  line,  being  in  the  van  of  the  Potomac  Army.  It  moved 
on  five  miles,  nearly  to  Greenmount,  Adams  County,  Pennsylvania,  160 
miles  from  the  starting  point  on  the  Rappahannock,  and  bivouacked 
about  noon  near  Marsh  Creek,  where  the  men  where  mustered  for  pay 
which  many  of  them  were  never  to  receive.  The  bivouac  was  but  six 
miles  from  a  field  which  their  blood  will  make  immortal  ere  another 
sunset.  Alas,  the  last  campfire  for  many  a  weary  soldier! 

"To-night  we  sleep  on  Bosworth  Field  —  to-morrow  where?" 


CHANGE   OF   COMMANDERS.     . 

In  this  impending  crisis,  another  change  of  Commanders  in  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  now  seemed  advisable  to  the  Washington 
authorities,  and  the  following  address  was  issued  : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  ) 
FREDERICK,  MD.,  June,  28,  1863.          j 

In  conformity  with  orders  from  the  War  Department,  the  command  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  is  transferred  to  Major-General  George  G.  Meade,  a  brave  and 
accomplished  officer,  who  has  nobly  earned  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  army  on 
many  a  well  fought  field.  Impressed  with  the  belief  that  my  usefulness  as  the 
commander  of  this  army  is  impaired,  I  part  from  it,  yet  not  without  the  deepest 
emotion.  The  sorrow  of  parting  with  the  comrades  of  so  many  battles  is  relieved  by 
the  conviction  that  its  courage  and  devotion  will  never  cease  nor  fail  ;  that  it  will  yield 
to  my  successor,  as  it  has  to  me,  a  willing  and  hearty  support.  With  the  earnest 
prayer  that  the  triumph  of  its  arms  may  bring  successes  worthy  of  it  and  the  nation,  I 
bid  it  farewell.  JOSEPH  HOOKER,  Major- General. 


FROM    CHANCELLORSVILLE   TO   GETTYSBURG.  153 

In  assuming  command  of  the  army  General  Meade  said : 

The  country  looks  to  this  army  to  relieve  it  from  the  devastation  and  disgrace 
of  a  hostile  invasion.  Whatever  fatigues  and  sacrifices  we  may  be  called  upon  to 
undergo,  let  us  have  in  view  constantly  the  magnitude  of  the  interests  involved,  and 
let  each  man  determine  to  do  his  duty.  It  is  with  just  diffidence  that  I  relieve  an 
eminent  and  accomplished  soldier,  whose  name  must  ever  appear  conspicuous  in  the 
history  of  its  achievements;  but  I  rely  upon  the  hearty  support  of  my  companions  in 
arms  to  assist  me  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the  important  trust  confided  to  me. 

General  Hooker's  management  of  the  Chancellorsville  campaign 
had  not  been  satisfactory  to  the  War  Department,  and  he  was  now 
denied  the  command  of  some  troops  within  his  department  which 
were  afterwards  placed  under  the  command  of  his  successor.  General 
Hooker  thus  felt  that  "  his  usefulness  as  commander  was  impaired," 


MAJOR-GENERAL  GEORGE   G.    MEADE. 


and  requested  to  be  relieved.  Two  days  after,  General  Meade,  awake 
to  the  great  interests  involved  in  the  impending  crisis,  issued  the 
following : 

The  Commanding  General  requests  that  previous  to  the  engagement  soon 
expected,  officers  address  their  troops  explaining  the  immense  issues  involved.  The 
enemy  is  now  on  our  soil.  The  whole  country  looks  anxiously  to  this  army  to  deliver 
it  from  the  presence  of  the  foe.  Corps  and  other  commanders  are 

authorized  to  order  the  instant  death  of  any  soldiet  iu ho  fails  to  do  his  duty  at  this  hour. 


154 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


Though  measuring  the  importance  of  the  struggle,  this  -severe 
menace  was  not  necessary.  An  appeal  to  their  honor  would  have 
sufficed,  such  as  Nelson  signaled  from  his  flagship  before  the  battle  of 
Trafalgar:  "  England  expects  every  man  to  do  his  duty  to-day." 


BEALTON  STATION,  VA.   SKETCHED  BY  H.  J.  BROWN. 


CHAPTER    IX. 


BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG. 


JUST  BEFORE  THE  BATTLE. 

IN  THE  closing  week  of  June,  1863,  both  the  Confederate  army 
under  Lee,  and  the  Union  army  under  Meade,  arrived  in 
Pennsylvania,  the  former  in  advance.  An  important  significance 
attached  to  the  next  day's  bloody  conflict  which  was  necessary 
to  prepare  the  way  for  a  colossal  Union  victory  two  days  after. 
Upon  its  issue  depended  the  Nation's  life.  The  very  fate  of  the 
Union  cause — even  the  recognition  of  the  Southern  Confederacy  from 
a  failure  of  the  Union  arms  at  this  time  —  would  soon  be  decided  on 
the  field  of  mortal  combat.  It  was  an  hour  of  agonizing  suspense, 
the  darkest  in  our  blood-stained  annals.  On  June  29,  1863,  Lee  heard 
of  the  Union  army  being  also  in  Pennsylvania  and  the  next  day 
started  his  forces  for  Gettysburg.  A  judge  in  the  latter  town, 
obtaining  this  information,  sent  a  messenger  off  to  a  distant  railroad 
station,  and  that  night  the  Governor  of  the  State  thereby  learned  of 
Lee's  intentions.  The  news  was  sent  to  Meade  by  a  circuitous 
telegraphic  course,  and  he,  too,  began  to  direct  his  scattered  corps  to 
the  same  place.  During  Tuesday,  June  30,  unbeknown  to  each  other, 
Lee  advanced  his  army  eastward,  while  General  Reynolds  of  the  First 
(Union)  Corps  advanced  northward,  bivouacking,  each,  about  an 
equal  distance  from  Gettysburg,  whose  advantageous  heights  were 
most  valuable  to  either  army. 

At  an  early  hour  on  Wednesday  morning,  July  I,  the  men 
partook  of  their  frugal  meal  of  hardtack,  pork  and  coffee,  as  usual. 
The  Pennsylvania  line  had  been  reached  and  the  forces  of  the  enemy 
must  be  met  very  soon,  though  none  suspected  that  the  foe  was 
within  a  few  hours'  march.  Before  resuming  the  daily  journey  it  was 
deemed  proper  to  assemble  the  regiment  for  prayer.  During  Chaplain 
Way's  invocation,  cartridges  and  hardtack  were  distributed  among  the 
men.  Time  was  precious  and  not  to  be  lost. 

The  line  of  advance  was  resumed  up  the  Emmitsburg  road.  All 
seemed  merry  until  yonder  booms  and  puffs  of  cannon  smoke  told 

(i55) 


i56 


HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


plainly  that  the  opposing  pickets  had  met.  Our  Union  cavalry  had 
halted  the  enemy,  dismounted,  and  were  having  a  hot  time  to  keep 
the  foe  in  check  until  the  approaching  First  Corps  could  arrive. 
Suddenly  a  fleet  horseman  from  the  front  dashed  up  with  a  hasty 
message  for  General  Meredith  of  the  "  Iron  Brigade."  Route  step 
and  merriment  now  gave  way  to  a  quick  pace,  while  all  non-combatants 
and  pack  mules  were  ordered  to  fall  to  the  rear,  as  the  regiment  with 
its  brigade  filed  off  the  road  to  the  left  about  a  mile  from  the  town, 
near  Gordon's  House. 


CAPTURE  OF  ARCHER'S  BRIGADE  —  DEATH  OF  REYNOLDS. 

The  Iron  Brigade  advancing  in  order — Second  and  Seventh 
Wisconsin,  Nineteenth  Indiana  and  Twenty-fourth  Michigan — was 
double-quicked  into  line,  without  guns  being  loaded  or  bayonets  fixed, 
which  was  done  on  the  run.  (The  Sixth  Wisconsin  of  this  brigade 
had  been  detached  for  service  elsewhere  in  this  corps  during  the 
morning.)  Hastening  across  the  fields  the  Iron  Brigade's  right  wing 


MAJOR-GENERAL  JOHN   F.    REYNOLDS,    KILLED   AT   GETTYSBURG. 


BATTLE    OF   GETTYSBURG.  157 

halted  on  the  crest  of  a  ridge  looking  down  into  a  wooded  ravine, 
from  which  blazed  a  shower  of  bullets  from  Archer's  Tennessee 
Brigade.  Its  left  wing,  consisting  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan, 
swung  clear  around  into  the  forest  in  the  rear  of  this  Tennessee 
Brigade.  A  special  in  the  New  York  Tribune  thus  described  the 
event : 

Reynolds  has  ridden  into  the  angle  of  wood,  a  bow-shot  from  the  Seminary,  and 
cheers  the  Iron  Brigade  as  they  wheel  on  the  flank  of  the  oak  trees  for  a  charge. 
Like  a  great  flail  of  steel  they  swing  into  the  shadows  with  a  huzza  that  is  terrible; 
low,  crouching  by  his  horse's  head,  the  General  peeps  into  the  depths  of  the  grove. 
"Boom"  from  the  oaken  recesses  breaks  a  hailstorm  of  lead,  and  Reynolds,  with  the 
word  of  command  upon  his  tongue,  falls  forward.  The  architect  of  the  battle  has 
fallen  dead  across  its  portal  !  Across  the  brook  and  up  the  hill,  out  from  the  wooded 
ravine,  two  jagged  arcs  leap  into  sight.  Huzza  !  From  the  skirts  of  the  oak  the 
great  double  doors  of  the  Iron  Brigade  shut  together,  with  a  slam  as  if  of  colliding 
mountains,  folding  between  them  1,500  rebel  prisoners  of  war. 

In  this  maneuver,  while  the  greater  part  of  Archer's  Brigade  was 
thus  captured,  a  large  number  of  them  ran  for  the  railroad  cut  a  little 
to  the  north  and  concealed  themselves  therein.  But  soon  after,  the 
Sixth  Wisconsin  of  the  Iron  Brigade  (this  day  on  detached  duty), 
succeeded  in  capturing  this  remnant  of  Archer's  Brigade.  Thus  the 
Iron  Brigade  had  the  honor  of  capturing  this  whole  Tennessee 
Brigade. 

The  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  was  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  Iron 
Brigade  during  the  charge,  and  swept  over  the  hill,  down  across 
Willoughby  Run,  swinging  clear  around  the  ravine  in  which  was 
Archer's  forces,  most  of  whom  were  thus  captured  with  General 
Archer  himself.  It  was  a  victory  indeed,  but  at  the  cost  of  precious 
lives,  including  its  valiant  color-bearer,  Sergeant  Abel  G.  Peck.  The 
regiment  then  about-faced  and  drove  the  uncaptured  foe  over  the 
crest  and  a  hundred  yards  beyond,  but  soon  after  withdrew  to  the 
eastern  side  of  the  stream  and  hastily  formed,  during  which 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Mark  Flanigan  lost  a  leg,  and  Adjutant  Rexford 
was  severely  wounded. 

BATTLE-LINE   IN   MCPHERSON'S   WOODS. 

The  Iron  Brigade  was  now  on   the  extreme  left  of  the  Federal 
position,    with    the    Twenty-fourth    in    the    center,    the    Nineteenth 
Indiana  on   its  left,  and  the  Seventh    and    Second   Wisconsin  on  its 
right,  in  McPherson's  woods,  something  over  a  mile  west  of  the  town.. 
The   right   of  the  Twenty-fourth  was  curved  back  to  unite  with  the 

OD 


158 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


Pi^^^r^^'  >-    fT' ' 

I    3*  *  '    - 


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p      *XviH*F|wrftj.t-rc 

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r       c  i  ,  i  )4  f  >.v  A^YI^\// 


ROUTE   OP   IRON    BftlGADK  ON   BATTLEFIELD   OF  GETTYSBURG. 


BATTLE    OF   GETTYSBURG.  159 

Seventh  Wisconsin,  its  two  wings  forming  the  sides  of  an  obtuse  angle. 
The  left  of  the  Twenty-fourth  extending  down  a  hillside  to  a  deep 
hollow  was  scarcely  visible  to  the  right  wing,  and  was  completely 
•commanded  (as  was  the  Nineteenth  Indiana)  by  the  enemy  on  the 
hill  opposite,  a  position  that  plainly  could  not  be  maintained.  Colonel 
Morrow  thought  this  part  of  the  line  should  have  been  formed  on  the 
elevated  ground  behind  and  represented  three  times  to  headquarters 
that  the  position  was  untenable.  But  the  invariable  reply  was  that 
^'the  position  must  be  held." 

It  was  now  eleven  o'clock,  and  a  brief  lull  ensued  in  the  enemy's 
firing,  evidently  to  allow  his  tardy  forces  to  take  position.  But  he 
shelled  the  woods  meanwhile,  and  company  B,  under  Lieutenant  Fred. 
A.  Buhl,  were  deployed  as  skirmishers.  The  enemy's  strong  divisions 
of  Heth  and  Fender,  supported  by  eighty  pieces  of  artillery, 
vehemently  attacked  the  little  First  Corps  of  9000  men  as  if  to 
annihilate  it  ere  aid  could  come  to  it.  Says  the  historian  Abbott : 

Noon  came  and  passed  and  no  help  for  the  dwindling  band  who  stood  among 
their  dead,  immovable.  Glorious  among  this  Spartan  Corps  flashed  the  Iron  Brigade, 
resistless  as  Western  nerve  and  pluck  can  be. 

It  was  well  after  one  o'clock  when  two  divisions  of  the  Eleventh 
Corps  arrived,  forming  a  broken  arc  of  battle-line  around  to  the  north 
of  the  town.  But  they  were  soon  outnumbered  by  the  arrival 
from  the  opposite  direction  of  Swell's  Confederate  Corps,  which 
united  with  Hill's  Corps,  already  confronting  the  First  Corps,  exceeded 
the  Union  forces  nearly  two  to  one.  Two-thirds  of  Lee's  army  thus 
.confronted  the  smallest  Union  Corps  and  part  of  another. 


GREAT   BATTLE   OF   FIRST   DAY — WHIRLWIND    OF   DEATH. 

The  enemy  having  completely  drawn  two  battle-lines  in  front 
and  on  the  flanks  of  the  First  and  Eleventh  Corps,  the  onset  of  battle 
was  again  sounded.  They  approached  in  two  splendid  lines  of 
battle,  after  forming  in  the  woods  beyond  the  open  field.  Their 
serpentine  lengths  of  grey  soon  appeared,  their  right  overlapping  the 
Federal  left  by  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  General  Meredith  of  the  Iron 
Brigade  was  soon  wounded  and  left  the  field.  Some  historians  have 
assigned  Colonel  Morrow  to  the  command  of  the  Iron  Brigade  for  the 
rest  of  the  fight,  but  in  a  private  letter  from  Colonel  Henry  A.  Morrow 
to  the  author,  in  1890,  he  disclaimed  any  command  on  that  day  of  the 
Iron  Brigade,  saying  that  Colonel  Robinson  of  the  Seventh  Wisconsin 


l6o  HISTORY   OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

took  Meredith's  place  after  the  latter  was  wounded.  Certain  it  is  that 
Colonel  Morrow  retained  immediate  command  of  his  own  regiment 
until  he  was  wounded  himself. 

Soon  after,  Brockenbrough  and  Pettigrew's  brigades  attacked 
the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  and  Nineteenth  Indiana,  in  front  and  left 
flank,  as  if  to  crush  them.  Other  troops  came  down  upon  the  Seventh 
and  Second  Wisconsin  as  if  to  drive  them  in.  Colonel  Morrow 
directed  his  men  to  withhold  their  fire  until  the  enemy  should  come 
within  easy  range,  and  they  approached  within  eighty  paces,  so  close 
that  the  commands  of  their  officers  could  be  heard.  Soon  the 
whirlwind  of  battle  began.  As  the  enemy  approached,  just  in  the 
rear  of  their  line  rode  a  Colonel  on  a  mule  repeating  "  Give  'em 
-  boys,"  when  a  bullet  knocked  his  cap  off.  Catching  it  in  his 
hand,  he  continued  to  urge  on  their  line. 

From  the  nature  of  the  ground  but  little  injury  was  inflicted  on 
the  enemy  at  this  time,  as  their  advance  was  not  checked,  and  on  they 
came,  yelling  like  demons.  The  Nineteenth  Indiana  fought  valiantly, 
but  overpowered  by  flanking  numbers,  with  a  disadvantage  of  position, 
they  were  forced  back  after  severe  loss  and  formed  on  a  new  line. 
This  exposed  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  to  a  terrible  cross  fire,  the 
men  falling  like  grass  before  the  scythe.  Captain  William  J.  Speed,  as 
Acting-Major  (Major  Wight  was  acting  now  as  Lieutenant-Colonel) 
attempted  to  swing  back  two  companies  on  the  left  so  as  to  face  the 
enemy  on  the  flank,  but  while  executing  the  movement,  a 
Confederate  bullet  .pierced  his  heart !  Lieutenant  Gilbert  A.  Dickey 
and  the  second  color  bearer  had  been  killed,  several  officers  wounded, 
and  many  of  the  men  lay  dead  or  wounded  on  this  line,  a  superior 
force  compelling  them  to  take  a  new  position. 

The  enemy  had  now  approached  a  little  within  the  first  line  of 
battle  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  where  they  were  held  for  some 
time,  the  work  of  death  going  on  without  ceasing.  They  were  the 
Twenty-sixth  North  Carolina  and  expected  to  meet  militia  only,  and 
have  an  easy  victory.  But  their  dead  and  wounded  lay  quite  as 
numerous  as  our  own  among  the  trees.  The  Iron  Brigade  wearing  a 
different  head  gear  from  the  rest  of  our  army  (stiff,  broad  brimmed, 
tall,  black  hats),  this  unique  feature  made  them  recognized  by  their 
old  antagonists  who  now  were  heard  by  our  own  wounded  to  exclaim : 
"  Here  are  those  -  -  black-hat  fellows  again !  This  is  no  militia." 
They  had  met  this  Iron  Brigade  before,  and  well  knew  when  they  did 
so  that  business  was  meant. 


BATTLE   OF   GETTYSBURG. 


161 


162  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

The  Second  Line  of  Battle  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  was 
speedily  formed.  Meanwhile,  a  desperate  resistance  was  made  against 
Scales'  Confederate  Brigade  on  our  right,  which  the  rest  of  the  Iron 
Brigade,  chiefly  the  Seventh  and  Second  Wisconsin,  aided  by  Battery 
B,  Fourth  U.  S.  Artillery  from  another  section  of  the  field,  almost 
annihilated.  Our  fraternal  Second  Brigade  of  Wadsworth's  Division 
was  also  doing  its  whole  duty  further  to  the  right.  Fresh  regiment 
after  regiment  was  dashed  against  the  Iron  Brigade  to  break  the 
Federal  left.  The  ranks  of  the  Twenty-fourth  had  again  become 
thinned,  a  windrow  of  killed  and  wounded  indicating  the  position  of 
this  line.  Overwhelmed  again,  it  was  forced  to  take  another  new 
position  beyond  a  small  ravine. 

On  this  Tliird  Line  of  Battle  its  third  color-bearer  was  killed,  and 
Major  Edwin  B.  Wight  (acting  as  Lieutenant-Colonel)  lost  an  eye. 
He  was  thrown  completely  down  and  supposed  by  the  men  to  be 
killed,  but  recovering  himself  he  was  forced  to  leave  the  field. 
Scarcely  a  fourth  of  the  regiment  taken  into  action  could  now  be 
rallied.  Lieutenants  Safford,  Shattuck  and  Wallace  were  killed,  and 
twelve  officers  had  received  wounds  more  or  less  severe.  For  over 
two  hours  had  the  terrible  conflict  lasted.  The  Eleventh  Corps  was 
going  to  pieces,  forced  back  by  superior  odds.  The  valiant  little  First 
Corps,  which  had  borne  the  brunt  of  the  battle  since  early  morning, 
had  been  forced  back  on  its  right.  Long  had  Wadsworth  held  its  line. 
"The  fire  was  such  as  veterans  never  saw  before,"  says  the  historian 
Abbott.  The  nervy  Iron  Brigade  still  held  out  against  the  crushing 
blows  of  greatly  preponderating  forces,  doubled  even,  to  dash  it  in 
pieces  or  capture  it,  and  yet  no  orders  came  for  it  to  retreat. 

We  can  say  but  little  of  the  other  regiments  of  the  Iron  Brigade 
at  this  time,  or  until  the  conflict  ended.  No  General  seems  to  have 
been  giving  orders  to  them  or  to  the  brigade.  Each  regiment  was 
fighting  by  itself,  and  none  seem  to  know  what  the  others  were  doing, 
except  to  be  hotly  engaged  like  themselves.  The  Twenty-fourth 
regiment  had  now  retired  from  the  woods  into  the  open  field  towards 
the  Seminary. 

A  Fourth  Line  of  Battle  was  next  attempted.  The  last  of  the 
color-guard  planted  the  flag  around  which  to  rally  the  men.  He  was 
shot  in  the  breast  and  left  on  the  field.  The  entire  color-guard  now 
being  gone,  Colonel  Morrow  took  the  flag  to  rally  the  remnant  of  his 
devoted  band  of  Wayne  County  boys  and  men,  when  a  private  took 
the  colors  from  his  hands  and  was  instantly  killed  by  the  Colonel's 


BATTLE   OF   GETTYSBURG.  163 

side.  Lieutenant  Humphreyville  was  killed  on  this  line,  and  Colonel 
Morrow  again  seized  the  colors. 

A  Fifth  Line  of  Battle  was  attempted  where  he  planted  the 
colors.  On  this  new  line,  while  waiving  his  sword  over  his  head  to 
rally  the  men,  Captain  O'Donnell  was  instantly  killed,  and  Lieutenant 
Grace  received  two  wounds,  both  of  which  were  mortal.  Gradually 
contesting  every  foot  of  ground,  step  by  step,  frequently  almost 
surrounded,  through  and  out  of  the  woods  and  over  the  open  field, 
what  was  now  left  of  the  Twenty-fourth  had  been  forced  back  to  the 
friendly  rail  fence  barricade  just  west  of  the  Seminary. 

Its  Sixth  Line  of  Battle  was  attempted  to  be  formed  at  this 
place.  It  fought  for  a  time,  during  which  Colonel  Morrow,  holding 
aloft  the  bullet-riddled  flag,  received  a  wound  in  his  head  and  was 
forced  to  leave  the  field,  first  turning  the  command  of  the  regiment 
over  to  Captain  A.  M.  Edwards,  the  senior  officer  now  present. 

Captain  Edwards  took  the  flag  and  waiving  it,  the  men  who  were 
left  gallantly  rallied  to  it  as  well  as  some  of  the  rest  of  the  Iron 
Brigade.  This  was  the  last  stand  made  by  the  Union  troops  on  that 
part  of  .the  field.  The  position  was  held  amid  a  murderous  fire  from 
front  and  flank,  until  orders  came  from  General  Doubleday  (command 
ing  the  First  Corps  since  Reynolds'  death  in  the  morning)  to  fall  back, 
the  first  order  of  the  kind  received  during  the  struggle.  Captain 
Edwards,  still  carrying  the  flag,  led  the  way  through  the  town  to  the 
Cemetery,  followed  by  only  twenty-six  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
Michigan,  in  comparative  good  order.  What  were  left  of  the  Iron 
Brigade  were  soon  after  moved  to  Gulp's  Hill  and  a  new  line  formed 
with  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  on  the  left.  It  reached  from  the 
top  of  the  elevation  to  the  foot  of  the  hill  facing  the  town.  A 
sorrowful  band,  indeed,  that  night !  Of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan 
only  ninety-nine  men  and  three  officers  could  be  rallied  to  the  flag, 
out  of  496  who  followed  it  into  action  that  morning. 

DEVOTION   TO   THE   FLAG. 

The  conduct  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  in  this  first  day's 
battle,  from  Colonel  to  private,  was  a  series  of  the  most  heroic  and 
brilliant  acts  of  supporting  and  rallying  on  the  flag,  amid  showers  of 
leaden  hail,  ever  known  in  the  annals  of  war,  and  conferred  immortal 
honor  upon  that  Spartan  band  as  lasting  as  the  blue  sky  that  looks 
down  upon  that  field  of  carnage  and  glory. 

When  its  flag  was  presented  to  the  regiment  in  Detroit,  a  solemn 
vow  was  taken,  never  to  allow  it  to  trail  before  the  enemy  or  fall  into 


164 


HISTORY   OF   THE  TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


his  hands.  That  flag,  pierced  by  twenty-three  fresh  bullets  from  the 
enemy's  guns,  aside  from  those  that  splintered  its  staff  in  this 
engagement,  spoke  more  forcibly  than  any  words  could,  with  what 
sacredness  the  vow  was  kept. 

The  noble  and  stalwart  Color-Sergeant,  ABEL  G.  PECK,  in  whose 
keeping  the  colors  were  placed,  on  the  Campus  Martius,  yielded  up 
his  life  in  their  defense,  early  in  the  morning  fight,  being  the  first  man 
of  the  regiment  killed  in  this  battle.  Before  they  touched  the  ground, 
as  Peck  fell,  Color-Corporal  CHARLES  BELLORE  of  E  sprang  forward 
and  seizing  the  colors,  bore  them  aloft  as  the  troops  advanced  to  the 
capture  of  Archer's  Brigade.  Bellore,  too,  was  killed  in  McPherson's 
woods  near  the  second  line  of  battle. 


DEFENDING  THE  COLORS  AT  GETTYSBURG,  JULY  1,  1863. 


BATTLE    OF   GETTYSBURG.  165 

Private  AUGUST  EARNEST  of  K  now  took  the  colors  from  the 
ground  and  carried  them  until  the  third  line  of  battle  was  formed, 
when  he,  also,  shared  the  fate  of  his  comrades.  When  Earnest 
dropped  dead,  the  flag  fell  with  him  at  the  feet  of  First  Sergeant 
EVERARD  B.  WELTON  of  H,  who  reached  forward  and  picked  it  up, 
holding  it  till  Colonel  Morrow  ran  to  him  and  took  the  thrice 
prostrated  flag  from  his  hands.  He  gave  it  to  Color-Corporal 
ANDREW  WAGNER  of  F,  who  boldly  waved  it  in  the  face  of  the 
advancing  foe,  and  under  a  terrific  fire,  took  a  new  position  indicated 
to  him  by  Colonel  Morrow.  Wagner  in  turn,  the  last  of  the  Color 
Guard,  was  shot  and  fell  with  the  colors.  Colonel  Morrow  took  them 
from  under  Wagner,  and,  assuring  him  that  his  wound  was  not  mortal, 
himself  bore  them  until  Private  WILLIAM  KELLY  of  E  came  up  and 
took  them,  saying:  "The  Colonel  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  shall 
not  carry  the  colors  while  I  am  alive."  In  an  instant  after  his  lifeless 
body  lay  at  the  feet  of  the  Colonel ! 

After  the  death  of  the  brave  Kelly,  the  flag  was  carried  for  a  time 
by  Private  LlLBURN  A.  SPAULDING  of  K,when  Colonel  Morrow  again 
took  it  and  made  another  effort  to  rally  his  more  than  thrice 
decimated  ranks.  He  carried  it  aloft  until  he  himself  was  wounded 
near  the  Seminary. 

Somewhere  between  the  first  line  of  battle  in  McPherson's  woods 
and  the  rail  fence  barricade  near  the  Seminary,  Corporal  WILLIAM 
ZlEGLER  of  A,  was  instantly  killed,  and  Sergeant  WILLIAM  J.  NAGLE 
of  A,  Corporal  THOMAS  SUGGETT  of  G  and  Private  THOMAS  B. 
BALLOU  of  C  were  mortally  wounded,  each  while  acting  as  color 
guard. 

What  became  of  the  colors  or  who  took  them  after  Colonel 
Morrow  was  wounded,  will  ever  remain  a  mystery  known  only  to  the 
God  of  heaven  and  the  brave  spirit  of  him  in  whose  possession  they 
were  found.  Soon  after  assuming  command,  Captain  A.  M.  Edwards 
saw  the  flag  lying  on  the  ground  in  the  hand  of  a  dead  or  dying 
soldier  boy,  who  was  reclining  on  his  right  side,  his  gun  being  near 
him.  Captain  Edwards  took  the  flag  from  the  young  soldier's  hands 
which  were  grasping  it  with  a  deathlike  grip,  and  after  rallying  the  men 
to  it  amid  a  shower  of  bullets,  bore  it  through  the  town  to  the 
Cemetery,  where  he  planted  it  near  a  battery,  and  sat  down  on  a  grave 
stone  while  the  remnant  of  the  regiment  rallied  about  its  bullet-riddled 
folds. 

Few  instances  of  such  devotion  to  the  flag  can  be  found  in  the 
history  of  any  war.  During  this  first  day's  fight,  the  flag  of  the 


1 66  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Twenty-fourth  Michigan  was  borne  by  no  less  than  ten  different 
persons,  five  of  whom  were  killed  and  two  were  wounded,  while  one 
other  of  the  color  guards  was  instantly  killed  and  three  others 
mortally  wounded. 

Nine  color  bearers  and  guards  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan 
lost  their  lives  or  received  mortal  wounds  in  the  defense  of  its  flag 
this  first  day  of  the  great  battle,  a  bloody  but  most  glorious  record. 

RESULTS   OF   THE   FIRST   DAY'S   BATTLE. 

For  many  years  Pickett's  charge  on  the  third  day  was  considered 
the  chief  feature  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  the  fighting  on  the 
second  and  third  days,  when  all  of  both  armies  were  in  line,  had 
attracted  most  attention.  But  a  closer  study  of  the  whole  field  shows 
that  the  first  day's  struggle  was  the  greatest,  the  losses  on  this  first 
day  exceeding  those  of  either  of  the  next  two  days'  fight. 

Fox,  who  has  become  the  acknowledged  authority,  in  his  "  Book 
of  Regimental  Losses,"  says : 

This  Corps  (ist)  did  some  of  the  best  fighting  of  the  war.  It  fought  that  day 
with  no  other  protection  than  the  flannel  blouses  that  covered  their  stout  hearts. 

Fox  also  says:  "The  First  Corps. entered  the  fight  with  9,403. 
men  and  lost  6,024;"  also,  that  "The  Eleventh  Corps  had  less  than 
9,000  engaged  and  lost  3,801,"  a  total  of  18,000  men  engaged  with 
over  25,000  of  the  enemy. 

Fox  says  further:  "The  Iron  Brigade  lost  1,153  men  out  °f  1*883 
there  engaged,  or  sixty-one  per  cent !  " 

A  Public  Journal  in  war  days  said : 

"It  was  to  the  Iron  Brigade  more  than  any  other  that  the  nation  owes  its 
salvation  at  Gettysburg,  and  we  say  not  more  than  history  will  verify,  that  of  all  the 
heroic  regiments  which  fought  there,  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  stands  preeminent 
for  its  devotion  and  valor.  Against  the  overwhelming  hordes  of  the  enemy,  it  stood 
for  hours,  a  wall  of  granite,  which  beat  back,  again  and  again,  the  resolute  but 
baffled  foe." 

For  three  days  the  contending  hosts  fought  and  more  than 
40,000  men  lay  dead  and  wounded  on  this  immortal  field.  Of  the  400 
Union  regiments,  all  of  which  distinguished  themselves  for  valor  at 
Gettysburg,  Detroit  and  Wayne  County,  Michigan,  sent  forth  the 
one  which  suffered  there  the  greatest  number  of  casualties.  Says 
Fox:  "This  melancholy  honor  belongs  to  the  Twenty-fourth 
Michigan  Infantry." 


BATTLE   OF   GETTYSBURG.  1 67 


TERRIBLE    BATTLEFIELD   DUEL. 

A  most  notable  incident  of  opposing  valor  occurred  on  the  first 
day,  between  the  Iron  Brigade  and  Pettigrew's  Confederate  Brigade. 
These  two  brigades  fought  facing  each  other,  frequently  not  over  four 
or  six  rods  apart.  For  two  hours  they  shot  each  other  down,  at  such 
remarkably  short  range,  in  open  field,  and  with  an  unflinching 
tenacity  which  is  worthy  of  historical  record  for  all  time. 

It  is  a  coincidence  that  the  Iron  Brigade  lost  the  heaviest  of  any 
brigade  at  Gettysburg  and  that  Pettigrew's  Brigade  which  fought 
against  it,  suffered  next  to  the  heaviest  loss  of  any  of  the  Confederate 
Brigades  engaged  there,  being  exceeded  only  by  a  loss  of  eighty-six 
more  men  in  Armistead's  Confederate  Brigade  in  Pickett's  Charge. 

It  is  another  coincidence  that  the  two  opposing  regiments  which 
sustained  the  greatest  loss  at  Gettysburg  belonged,  the  one 
(Twenty-fourth  Michigan)  to  the  Iron  Brigade  and  the  other, 
(Twenty-sixth  North  Carolina)  to  Pettigrew's  Confederate  Brigade. 

A  comparison  of  these  two  regiments  on  that  day,  which  faced 
each  other  down  to  death,  tells  the  pointed  story  of  the  terrible 
combat : 

TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN.  TWENTY-SIXTH    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

Entered  battle  with  -     496  men  ;  800  men. 

Killed  and  wounded,       -         -         316     "  588     " 

Missing  in  action,      -         -         -       81     "  120     " 
Remaining,                                            99     "  92     " 

Per  cent,  of  killed  and  wounded,    64  73.5 

Per  cent,  of  loss,         -         -       80  88.5 

It  is  said  that  in  two  companies  of  the  Twenty-sixth  North 
Carolina,  not  a  man  ever  reported  for  duty  after  this  battle.  Such 
valor  deserves  a  distich  in  immortal  verse.  Mortal  can  never  tell 
what  would  have  been  the  loss  figures,  had  these  two  regiments  and 
brigades  fought  till  dark.  Each  seemed  determined  to  exterminate 
the  other,  and  the  faster  the  comrades  fell,  the  cooler  and  harder  the 
balance  seemed  to  fight.  It  was  undoubtedly  the  liveliest  "shooting 
match"  that  ever  occurred  on  a  battlefield. 

THE   DAY'S   DEFEAT   A   GREAT   VICTORY. 

And  thus  the  enemy's  lines  were  held  back,  hour  after  hour,  by 
the  little  First  Corps  and  part  of  the  Eleventh  Corps,  till  the  friendly 
sunset  and  darkness  came,  while  Meade's  absent  corps,  by  forced 
marches,  were  hastening  to  the  field.  Though  the  Union  troops 


1 68  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

which  fought  the  first  day  were  decimated  and  forced  back  from  their 
fighting  ground,  they  had  in  reality  won  a  great  victory  whereby 
Cemetery  Ridge,  Gulp's  Hill  and  Round  Top  were  saved  to 
the  Union  army  and  a  great  victory  made  possible  two  days  after. 
And  of  all  the  troops  who  so  valiantly  faced  the  whirlwind  of  death 
that  day,  history  will  accord  to  the  Iron  Brigade  the  honor  of  being 
the  last  to  leave  the  field.  Three  days  after,  General  Wadsworth 
paid  Colonel  Morrow  and  his  command  the  following  high  tribute: 

Colonel  Morrow,  the  only  fault  I  find  with  you  is  that  you  fought  too  long,  but 
God  only  knows  what  would  have  become  of  the  Army  of  the\Potomac  if  you  had  not  held 
the  ground  as  long  as  you  did. 

The  remark  will  apply  equally  to  the  other  regiments  of  the  Iron 
Brigade.  The  Confederate  dead  and  wounded  were  too  numerous 
over  the  field  for  the  daring  Lee  to  venture  his  rashness  further  that 
night.  He  arrived  upon  the  field  in  time  to  see  the  last  of  our  forces 
climbing  up  Cemetery  Hill,  and  beheld  up  there  the  lunettes  which 
the  considerate  Prussian  officer,  General  Steinwehr,  of  the  Eleventh 
Corps,  with  Germanic  coolness  and  foresight,  had  hastily  constructed 
during  the  day's  fighting.  And  thus  ended  this  first  day's  contest, 
with  victory  apparently  with  the  Confederates,  yet  really  the  Union 
army  remnant  had  secured  and  firmly  held  the  advantageous  heights 
and  vantage  ground  for  the  remainder  of  the  struggle. 

SECOND  DAY'S  BATTLE. 

By  Thursday  forenoon,  July  2d,  both  armies  had  fairly  got  into 
line.  The  Union  army  had  seven  small  corps  (82,000  men  and  300 
cannon)  arranged  in  fish  hook  shape  from  Gulp's  Hill  on  its  right,  to 
Round  Top  on  its  left,  in  order  following:  On  Gulp's  Hill  —  the 
Twelfth  Corps  (Slocum's)  and  First  Division  ( Wadsworth's)  of  First 
Corps;  on  Cemetery  Hill  —  Eleventh  Corps  (Howard's),  Second 
Corps  (Hancock's)  and  the  rest  of  the  First  Corps;  along  Cemetery 
Ridge  —  the  Third  Corps  (Sickles'),  Fifth  Corps  (Sykes')  and  Sixth 
Corps  (Sedgwick's).  Lee  had  three  large  corps  (70,000  men  and  250 
cannon)  arranged  as  follows:  First  Corps  (Longstreet's)  and  Second 
Corps  ( Hill's)  extending  from  in  front  of  Round  Top  on  his  right, 
along  Seminary  Ridge  and  through  the  town,  uniting  with  the  Third 
Corps  (Swell's)  in  front  of  Gulp's  Hill,  on  the  left. 

Meade  intended  his  left  to  extend  to  Round  Top,  but  Sickles 
seeing  higher  ground  in  his  own  front,  moved  his  corps  half  a  mile 
out  to  the  Emmitsburg  road.  At  4  o'clock,  his  line  was  vigorously 


BATTLE   OF   GETTYSBURG.  169 

assaulted,  during  which  he  lost  a  leg,  and  the  Confederate  General 
Barksdale  was  mortally  wounded.  His  lines  were, forced  back  to 
Cemetery  Ridge.  This  action  is  known  as  the  Peach  Orchard  battle, 
from  the  fact  of  its  occurrence  in  an  orchard  of  peach  trees.  The 
locality  is  still  planted  to  peach  trees  as  in  those  days. 

The  enemy  then  advanced  to  capture  Little  Round  Top.  but 
General  Warren  had  been  up  there  during  the  fighting  below  and 
noting  its  value,  spurred  his  horse  down  the  slope  and  hurried  up  a 
few  regiments  to  possess  it.  A  battery  had  to  be  dragged  up  its 
rocky  sides  by  ropes,  wheels  and  pieces  at  a  time,  and  Round  Top 
was  saved.  Some  Michigan  sharpshooters  held  the  enemy  back  when 
they  first  came  up  to  the  attack,  a  fact  confessed  by  General 
Longstreet,  on  a  visit  to  the  field  at  the  dedication  of  the  monuments 
in  1888,  when  he  said  in  a  speech: 

If  you  Michigan  gentlemen  had  not  detained  me  forty  minutes  on  the 
morning  of  the  second  day,  I  should  have  had  Round  Top  and  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg  would  have  been  ours. 

It  was  a  bloody  contest  below  which  is  known  as  the  Valley  of 
Death.  Next,  Hancock's  and  Sedgwick's  Corps  made  a  counter 
charge  and  forced  the  enemy  from  the  foot  of  Cemetery  Ridge  back 
to  the  position  Sickles  had  taken  in  front.  This  action  is  known  as 
the  Wheatfield  battle,  from  the  fact  of  its  occurrence  in  a  large  field 
of  uncut  wheat. 

During  this  conflict,  two  divisions  of  the  Twelfth  Corps  had  been 
taken  from  Gulp's  Hill  to  assist  on  the  left.  Seeing  this,  Ewell 
assaulted  the  Union  right,  and  Johnston's  Division  of  his  Corps 
lodged  itself  in  the  works  from  whence  our  troops  had  been  taken  to 
assist  Sickles,  thus  greatly  endangering  the  rear  of  the  Union  right, 
for  it  was  near  our  reserve  artillery  and  the  Baltimore  Pike.  Upon 
the  return  of  the  two  divisions  of  the  Twelfth  Corps,  they  were 
surprised  to  find  the  enemy  in  their  works.  Thus  closed  the  second 
day's  struggle  with  no  material  advantage  to  either  army,  except  the 
possession  of  Round  Top  by  the  Union,  and  the  lodgment  of  the 
enemy's  division  on  Gulp's  Hill. 

THIRD    DAY'S    BATTLE. 

At  daybreak  on  Friday,  July  3,  the  Twelfth  Corps  opened  their 
artillery  into  Johnston's  division  and  at  sunrise  made  an  infantry 
attack,  requiring  seven  hours  and  a  terrible  slaughter  to  dislodge  them. 
Lee  next  attempted  to  break  the  Union  center.  Quiet  had  reigned 


I/O  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

most  of  the  forenoon  along  the  lines  after  the  struggle  over  on 
Culp's  Hill.  But  at  one  o'clock  the  great  signal  gun  of  the  enemy 
heralded  the  most  terrific  cannonading  ever  known  on  earth, 
responded  to  by  one  hundred  Federal  cannon  along  Cemetery  Ridge. 
Even  the  wild  rabbits  leaped  into  the  men's  bosoms  for  protection 
under  their  blouses.  The  scene  is  thus  described  by  a  New  York 
correspondent : 

The  storm  broke  upon  us  so  suddenly  that  soldiers  and  officers  who  leaped,  as 
it  began,  from  their  tents  or  lazy  siestas  on  the  grass — were  stricken  in  their  rising  with 
mortal  wounds,  and  died,  some  with  cigars  between  their  teeth,  some  with  pieces  of 
food  in  their  fingers.  Horses  fell  writhing  in  hopeless  agony.  The  boards  of  fences 
scattered  by  explosions,  flew  splinters  through  the  air.  The  earth,  torn  up  in  clouds, 
blinded  the  eyes  of  hurrying  men;  and  through  the  branches  of  the  trees  and  among 
the  gravestones  of  the  cemetery  a  shower  of  destruction  crashed  ceaselessly.  As,  with 
hundreds  of  others,  I  groped  through  this  tempest  of  death  for  the  shelter  of  the 
bluff,  an  old  man,  a  private  in  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  was  struck,  scarcely  ten 
feet  away,  by  a  cannon  ball,  which  tore  through  him,  extorting  such  a  low,  intense 
cry  of  mortal  pain,  as  I  pray  God  I  may  never  again  hear.  The  hill,  which  seemed 
alone  devoted  to  this  rain  of  death,  was  clear  in  nearly  all  its  unsheltered  places, 
within  five  minutes  after  the  fire  began. 

After  three  hours  of  cannonading,  in  which  the  very  hills 
trembled,  the  fire  of  the  Union  guns  was  slackened  to  allow  them  to 
cool,  in  the  vicinity  where  the  attack  to  follow  was  designed  to  be 
made  by  the  enemy.  They  supposed  the  silence  resulted  from 
disabled  batteries  and  believed  the  moment  for  the  infantry  assault 
had  come. 

PICKETT'S  CHARGE. 

Their  storming  party,  mainly  Pickett's  Division,  had  been  formed, 
many  thousand  strong,  under  cover  of  some  woods  on  Seminary 
Ridge.  General  Pickett  then  rode  up  to  Longstreet  and  (in  the 
presence  of  Lee)  saluting,  said  in  a  chivalrous  manner:  "Give  me 
the  order  to  advance,  sir."  Longstreet  felt  that  the  charge  would  be 
a  mistake  and  had  so  expressed  his  mind  to  Lee,  but  without  avail. 
Knowing  it  had  to  be,  but  unwilling  to  give  the  order,  he  turned  his 
face  away  from  Pickett  who  said :  "  I  shall  go  forward  with  my 
command,  sir."  He  spurred  his  horse  back  to  the  charging  column. 
His  Virginians  hesitated  to  move.  Knowing  what  was  expected  of 
them,  by  that  wonderful  discernment  or  intuition  of  the  ranks 
which  often  occurs,  they  did  not  believe  they  would  succeed.  They 
had  bidden  each  other  farewell,  had  shaken  hands  in  dying  friendship, 
and  naturally  of  one  mind  desired  a  moment  longer  of  life.  Presently 


BATTLE   OF   GETTYSBURG.  17 1 

someone  cried  out,  "  Oh,  boys,  do  you  want  to  live  forever?"  and  with 
a  yell  away  they  started  for  glory  and  death. 

Emerging  from  the  woods,  they  disclosed  column  after  column  of 
grey  in  brigade  length  fronts,  and  began  to  cross  the  mile  of  interval 
between  them  and  the  Union  lines.  As  they  passed  down  the  slope 
of  Seminary  Ridge,  they  swept  along  under  the  friendly  fire  of  their 
own  cannon  to  disconcert  the  Union  lines  in  their  front.  Then  they 
must  pass  half  a  mile  over  a  level  plain  and  still  ascend  the  Cemetery 
Ridge.  As  they  drew  into  view  out  of  the  woods,  every  battery  from 
Round  Top  along  Cemetery  Ridge  to  Gulp's  Hill  poured  shell  and 
canister  among  them.  At  this  the  Confederate  guns  turned  their 
attention  to  the  Union  cannon  which  however  paid  no  regard 
whatever  to  these  more  distant  foes,  but  continued  to  send  every  shot 
into  Pickett's  advancing  columns. 

They  wavered  not,  but  closed  up  their  ranks  gallantly,  crossed  the 
Emmitsburg  road  in  proud  array  and  swept  on  up  the  gradual  ascent. 
Pickett,  as  if  to  mislead  the  Union  generals,  halted  his  column,  as  he 
neared  the  Union  lines,  and  wheeled  his  front  to  the  left  to  strike  the 
Union  line  at  an  unexpected  point,  leaving  the  rest  of  his  column  to 
move  directly  forward.  Meanwhile,  the  work  of  death  from  the 
Union  guns  was  perceptible  in  their  decimated  ranks.  The  Union 
infantry  moved  upon  both  flanks  of  one  of  their  storming  columns 
unexpectedly,  and  thus  it  was  double  flanked  and  getting  grape  and 
•canister  from  front.  Their  other  column  moved  straight  forward  to 
the  Union  lines.  As  they  approached  on  up  the  gentle  slope  of  the 
Ridge,  General  Gibbon  ordered  his  infantry  to  fall  back  to  the  rear  of 
his  batteries,  which  double-shotted  with  grape  at  thirty  paces,  swept 
down  the  foe  like  a  cyclone.  For  a  few  moments  a  hand  to  hand 
contest  was  waged.  They  had  pierced  the  Union  line  and  planted 
their  flag  even  at  the  clump  of  trees,  their  objective  point,  but  for  a 
moment  only.  Their  General  Armistead  was  taken  from  his  horse 
mortally  wounded,  and  the  Federals  from  all  sides  drove  the  foe  down 
the  slope  when  our  artillery  again  played  upon  them,  as  fresh  troops 
were  seen  coming  to  their  aid.  Many  threw  themselves  upon  the 
ground  in  token  of  surrender  and  crawled  up  to  the  guns,  without 
their  arms,  under  the  belching  fire,  and  gave  themselves  up.  But 
a  remnant  of  Pickett's  men  returned  to  their  lines.  The  battle 
was  ended  and  no  sJiout  went  np  in  the  SontJiern  Confederacy  from 
that  hour.  The  bloody  water-mark  of  the  rebellion  here  reached 
its  highest  ebb,  and  the  Southern  cause  waned  from  that  hour. 


1/2  HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

European  nations  had  little  confidence  in  the  success  of  the  Southern 
cause  henceforth. 

It  was  the  design  to  have  Stuart's  Cavalry  of  the  enemy  come 
through  from  the  opposite  side  at  the  time  of  Pickett's  charge,  but 
unknown  to  the  Confederate  Generals,  when  Pickett  set  out  on  his 
death  march,  the  Union  cavalry  had  met  and  utterly  defeated  and 
routed  this  branch  of  the  Confederate  service.  In  this  engagement 

o     o 

the   Michigan    Cavalry    Brigade    took    an    important    part    and    won 
honorable  distinction. 

COMPARATIVE   LOSSES. 

A  comparison  of  the  commands  which  sustained  the  heaviest 
losses,  on  both  sides,  will  be  interesting.  By  Corps  the  losses  were  as 
follows  : 

UNION  CORPS.  CONFEDERATE  CORPS. 

First,  8  Brigades,     .....  6,052                  First,  13  Brigades,  .....     7,354 

Second,  II  Brigades,       .     .     .  4,351                   Second,  14  Brigades,        .     .     .       6,912 

Third,  7  Brigades,   .....  4,198                  Third,  15  Brigades,      ....     6,649 

Fifth,  9  Brigades,        ....  2,186                  Cavalry  and  revised  losses,     .       6,610 

Sixth,  10  Brigades,       ....  242 

Eleventh,  7  Brigades,     .     .     .  3,801                          Tota1'     ......     27>S*S 

Twelfth,  7  Brigades,    ....  1,082 

Artillery  Reserve,       ....  242 

Cavalry,  etc.,       ......  849 


Total,      .......     23,003 

The  above  figures  include  killed,  wounded  and  captured,  or 
missing.  The  killed  and  wounded  in  both  armies  amounted  to  40,261. 
The  brigades  that  suffered  the  most  were  as  follows: 

Armistead's,  Confederate  ............  1,191 

Iron  Brigade,  Union,        ............  1,153 

Pettigrews's,  Confederate,       ...........  1,105 

—  ,  Union,      ..............  1,041 

Cutler's  (Wadsworth's  Division),  Union,  .......  1,002 

As  to  regiments,  the  following  sustained  the  greatest  losses: 

Twenty-sixth  North  Carolina,  Confederate  .......  702 

Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  Union,      .........  397 

One  Hundred  and  Fifty-first  Pennsylvania,  Union,       .     .     .  337 

One  Hundred  and  Forty-ninth  Pennsylvania,  Union,     .     .  336 

One  Hundred  and  Fifty-seventh  New  York,  Union,      .     .     .  307 

The  highest  per  cent  of  loss  in  numbers  were  : 

Twenty-sixth  North  Carolina,  Confederate,       .     .  88.5  per  cent. 

First  Minnesota,  Union,         ........  86 

Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  Union,     ......  80        "       " 

And  each  of  the  regiments  above  more  than    .     .  70        "       " 


BATTLE   OF   GETTYSBURG.  173 

Though  larger  forces  had  contended  in  battle,  Gettysburg  has  few 
parallels  in  history.  At  Leipsic  —  "The  Battle  of  the  Nations" — 
the  numbers  were  far  greater,  the  Allies  having  330,000  and  Bonaparte, 
175,000.  Borodino  was  the  bloodiest  battle  since  the  introduction 
of  gunpowder  in  war.  There  the  killed  and  wounded  were  numerically 
greater  than  at  Gettysburg  or  Waterloo,  yet  the  per  cent  of  loss  was 
much  less.  The  two  great  battles  of  this  century  were  Waterloo  and 
Gettysburg,  and  a  striking  comparison  exists  between  these 
engagements: 

At  Gettysburg  the  Unionists   had  82,000  men  and   300  guns. 

Confederates  had  70,000  men  and  250  guns. 
"     Union  loss  was  23,003  men. 
"     Confederate  loss  was  27,525  men. 
At  Waterloo  the  French  had  80,000  men  and  252  guns. 
"         "     Allies  had  72,000  men  and  i86guns. 

Bonaparte's  loss  was  26,300  men. 
"       Wellington's  loss  was  23,185  men. 

After  Pickett's  charge,  both  armies  seemed  to  be  dazed  at  the 
terrible  struggle.  Immediately  Lee  began  to  make  arrangements  for 
retreat,  and  at  dark  it  began.  By  the  next  morning  his  whole  army 
was  fairly  on  the  road  for  the  South  except  a  few  pickets  left  for  effect. 
For  this  escape  there  was  no  little  criticism.  After  accomplishing 
this  great  victory,  after  an  one  hundred  and  sixty  mile  march  from 
the  Rappahannock,  whereby  the  life  of  the  nation  was  saved  ;  our 
army  was  saved;  Washington,  Philadelphia  and  New  York  were  saved 
from  the  invading  foe,  and  he  was  soundly  threshed  and  hastening 
away — after  all  this  in  a  three  days'  battle  at  such  an  awful  cost  of 
life  and  wounded,  the  ever  dissatisfied  critics  who  never  did  anything 
themselves  towards  putting  down  the  rebellion,  found  fault  because 
Meade  and  his  wearied  army  did  not  do  more — did  not  in  fact  capture 
or  annihilate  Lee's  army.  We  have  no  language  to  express  the 
supreme  meanness  and  shallowness  of  any  such  expectation.  The 
shattered  brigades  and  regiments  had  suffered  too  much,  on  both 
sides,  for  either  army  to  surround  or  subdue  the  other.  Their 
numerical  forces  were  yet  too  nearly  alike.  However,  it  is  impossible 
to  say  what  might  have  been,  had  these  critics  been  in  the  ranks  at 
the  time  to  assist. 

EXPLANATION  OF   MAP. 

The    top    of    the    map    is    due    north.     Gettysburg   is    35    miles     southwest    of 
Harrisburg,   Penn.       Population,  3,000.      Cemetery  Hill  is  half  a  mile  south  of  the 
town.       Cemetery    Ridge    extends    three    miles    further    south    to   the    Round    Tops. 
(12) 


174 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


UNION   LINKS. 
CONFEDERATE  LINES. 


BATTLE   OF   GETTYSBURG.  1/5 

Nearly  parallel  with  and  nearly  a  mile  west  of  Cemetery  Ridge,  runs  Seminary  Ridge, 
taking  its  name  from  the  Lutheran  Seminary  half  a  mile  west  of*  the  town. 
McPherson's  woods  are  less  than  half  a  mile  west  of  the  Seminary.  On  west  towards 
Willoughby  Run  a  short  distance,  was  the  Twenty-Fourth  Michigan's  first  line  of 
battle  in  the  woods.  Gulp's  Hill  is  half  a  mile  east  of  Cemetery  Hill.  The 
"  Wheatfield  "  is  about  half  way  on  a  direct  line  as  you  look  from  Little  Round  Top 
to  the  Peach  Orchard.  Looking  down,  a  little  southwest,  is  seen  "  Devil's  Run,"  and 
a  little  distance  beyond  is  the  "Loop."  North  of  the  town  is  Pennsylvania  College. 
Beyond  and  to  the  left  is  Oak  Hill.  The  Tarrytown  road  south,  runs  over  and  just 
east  of  Cemetery  Ridge.  The  "Clump  of  Trees,"  the  end  of  Pickett's  charge,  is  a  mile 
and  a  half  south  of  the  town,  on  the  west  side  of  Cemetery  Ridge  and  near  to  it  is  the 
"  Bloody  Angle."  One  mile  south  of  town,  on  the  Emmitsburg  Road,  is  the  Cordori 
Farm  where  the  Iron  Brigade  filed  off  towards  McPherson's  woods  to  capture  Archer 
and  his  brigade. 

THERE   HAS    BEEN  A   BATTLE. 

There  has  been  a  battle,  as  the  words  along  the  lines  come  thrilling, 

The  mighty  East  and  West  and  North,  with  the  giant  echo  filling  ; 

And  all  along  the  busy  street,  amid  the  rush  and  rattle, 

The  hurrying  men  pause  as  they  meet,  to  say,   "There  has  been  a  battle." 

Sitting  in  idle  quiet  here,  in  my  low  chamber  lonely, 
Their  eager  voices  meet  my  ear,  but  not  their  voices  only, 
The  loitering  breezes  o'er  and  o'er  are  telling  me  the  story, 
Of  faces  that  shall  come  no  more,  and  battlefields  all  gory. 

Of  brave  men  in  the  carnage  killed,  still  on  the  red  ground  lying, 
And  hospitals  whose  wards  are  filled  with  true  hearts  slowly  dying  ; 
And  forms  the  noblest  of  the  North,  who  fought  and  faltered  never, 
That  must  from  those  dear  wards  go  forth  as  crippled  forms  forever. 

And  lightly  borne  across  the  moor,  by  the  low  south  wind  sweeping, 
There  comes  to  me  from  many  a  door,  the  voice  of  many  weeping  ; 
Weeping  above  their  battle  dead,  in  hopeless,  helpless  sorrow; 
Refusing  to  be  comforted  through  faith  in  any  morrow. 

— By  M.   W.  Edgar. 

LOSSES   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN   AT   GETTYSBURG. 

KILLED.  Color  Guard. 

Officers.  Sergt.  Abel  G.  Peck,  C. 

Corp.  Charles  Bellore,  E. 

-Capt.  WILLIAM  J.  SPEED,  D.  wn-       T     i       A 

J  William  Ziegler,  A. 

MALACHI  J.  O'DONNELL.  E.  priyate  ^  Ernest>  K 

ist    Lieut.  WALTER  H.  WALLACE,  K.  „      wmiam  Kdl     £ 

WINFIELD  S.  SAFFOKD,  C. 

Unknown  Boy,  grasping  flag. 

NEWELL  GRACE,  H. 
2d   Lieut.  REUBEN  H.  HUMPHREYVILLE,  K.  Non-Commissioned. 

Lucius  L.  SHATTUCK,  C.  ist  Sergt.  Andrew  J.  Price,  B. 
"         GILBERT  A.  DICKEY,  G.  "       Charles  Bucklin,  F. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


ist  Sergt.  William  H.  Luce,  G. 
Sergt.  George  Cline,  B. 

"      Joseph  Eberly,  D. 

"      George  O.  Colburn,  G. 

"      John  Powell,  H. 
Corp.  William  Carroll,  B. 

"     John  H.  Pardington,  B. 

"     Otis  Southwcrth,  C. 

"     David  E.  Rounds,  D. 

"     James  Sterling,  D. 

"     Iltid  W.  Evans,  F. 

"     Jerome  P.  Fayles,  G. 

"     John  W.  Welsh,  G. 

' '     George  N.  Bentley,  I. 

"     James  B.  Myers,  I. 

"     Jerome  P.  Lefevre,  K. 

Privates, 

Joseph  Carroll,  A. 
Garrett  Chase,  A. 
John  Dingwall,  A. 
Augustus  Jencks,  A. 
Michael  Tiernay,  A. 
Mathew  Duncan,  B. 
George  L.  Cogswell,  C. 
Oliver  C.  Kelley,  C. 
John  E.  Ryder,  C. 
John  Dwyer,  D. 
John  Groth,  D. 
William  H.  Houston,  D. 
James  Doyle,  E. 
Thomas  S.  Orton,  E. 
William  S.  Bronson,  F. 
James  Hubbard,  F. 
Ernest  F.  Argelbeim,  G. 
Elias  B.  Browning,  G. 
Charles  Coombs,  G. 
George  A.  Codwise,  G. 
Patrick  Hefferman,  G. 
John  Martin,  G. 
George  H .  Pettinger,  G. 


John  Shoane,  G. 
Albert  Wasso,  G. 
Dr.  Robert  R.  Herrman,  H. 
Edward  B.  Harrison,  H. 
James  Mooney,  I. 
Adolphus  Shephard,  I. 
Henry  Viele,  I. 
Peter  Case,  K. 
David  F.  Delaney,  K. 
Conrad  Gundlack.  K. 
Lewis  Harland,  K. 
Henry  W.  Jamieson,  K. 
Elijah  P.  Osborne,  K. 
Andrew  Smith,  K. 

MORTALLY   WOUNDED. 

On  Color  Guaid. 
ist.  Sergt.  William  J.  Nagle,  A. 
Corp.  Thomas  Suggett,  G. 
Private  Thomas  B.  Ballou,  C. 

Rank  and  File. 
Corp.  Edward  Dwyer,  B. 

"•'     John  M.  Walls,  E. 

"      Charles  E.  Crarey,  H. 
John  S.  Rider,  B.     Arm  amputated. 
William  Williams,  B.   Leg  amputated. 
Mason  Palmer,  D.     Arm  amputated. 
Henry  C.  McDonald,  B. 
Edward  M.  Corey,  C. 
Lucius  W.  Chubb,  C. 
Eliphalet  Carleton,  D. 
Charles  Ruff,  D. 
Charles  Paton,  E. 
John  McNish,  F. 
Josiah  P.  Turner,  F. 
Henry  Crothine,  G. 
Myron  Demary,  H. 
John  Dubois,  I. 
Nelson  Harris,  I. 
Hiram  A.  Williams,  I. 


OTHER   WOUNDED. 

Col.  HENRY  A.  MORROW,  in  head,  and  prisoner,  Field  Officer. 
Lieut. -Col.  MARK  FLANIGAN,  leg  amputated,  Field  Officer. 
Major  EDWIN  B.  WIGHT,  sight  of  right  eye  lost,  Field  Officer. 
Capt.  WILLIAM  W.  WIGHT,  wounded  slightly,  K. 

"     WILLIAM  H.  REXFORD,  hip  and  thigh,  B. 

"     CHARLES  A.  HOYT,  ankle  and  arm,  C. 

"     WILLIAM  HUTCHINSON,  thigh  and  groin,  G. 

"      RICHARD  S.  DILLON,  wounded  four  times,  A. 


BATTLE   OF   GETTYSBURG. 


ist  Lieut.  JOHN  M.  FARLAND,  in  groin  by  fall,  D. 

"         FREDERICK  A.  BUHL,  in  leg  badly,  B. 

"        EDWIN  E.  NORTON,  arm,  E. 
2d  Lieut.  MICHAEL  DEMPSEY,  hip,  E. 

"        WILLIAM  R.  DODSLEY,  shoulder,  H. 

"        ABRAHAM  EARNSHAW,  breast,  I. 
Sergt. -Major  Andrew  J.  Connor,  shoulders,  N.  C.  S. 
Color-Corp.  Andrew  Wagner,  lungs,  F. 
ist  Sergt.  Asa  Joy,  leg  amputated,  C. 
Sergt.  Edgar  O.  Durfee,  arm  amputated,  C. 

"      John  W.  McMillan,  leg  amputated,  G. 
John  Happe,  foot  amputated,  A. 
William  Smith,  arm  amputated,  B. 
John  W.  Babbitt,  leg  amputated,  C. 
Patrick  Tunney,  leg  amputated,  E. 
Eugene  Sims,  arm  amputated,  F. 
William  A.  Armstrong,  arm  amputated,  G. 
Patrick  Clarey,  leg  amputated,  I. 
Richard  M.  Fish,  leg  amputated,  I. 
Samuel  T.  Lautenschlager,  in  both  legs,  G. 
Van  Rensselaer  W.  Lemm,  in  arm,  H. 


Sergeants. 

<ist)  George  W.  Haigh,  knee,  D. 
"   Joseph  R.  Boyle,  ribs,  E. 
'    Benjamin  W.  Hendricks,  thigh,  G. 
"    Albert  E.  Bigelow,  leg,  I., 
"    George  W.  Fox,  arm,  K. 

Hugh  F.  Vanderlip,  thigh,  A. 

•George  H.  Pinkney,  side,  B. 

John  M.  Reed,  neck,  B. 

Samuel  Joy,  hip  and  arm,  C. 

Augustus  Pomeroy,  foot,  C. 

John  Blackwell,  three  times,  E. 

James  D.  Shearer,  ankle,  F. 

George  H.  Canfield,  bowels,  I. 

William  D.  Murray,  arm,  I. 

Samuel  F.  Smith,  shoulder,  K. 

Corporals. 

John  S.  Coy,  wounded  five  times,  A. 
Lewis  E.  Johnson,  nose,  A. 
James  S.  Booth,  thigh,  B. 
Samuel  W.  Church,  neck,  B. 
Nathaniel  A.  Halstead,  twice,  B. 
Clark  Eddy,  hip,  C. 
Daniel  McPherson,  hand,  C. 
Claries  Pinkerton,  breast,  C. 
Roswell  L.  Root,  foot,  C. 
William  H.  Whallon,  three  times,  C. 
Jabez  Walker,  arm,  D. 


John  W.  Fletcher,  twice,  E. 
James  S.  Murphy,  face,  E. 
William  Powers,  twice,  E. 
Eugene  Smith,  twice,  E. 
George  W.  Chilson,  body,  F. 
Levi  S.  Freeman,  body,  F. 
Erastus  W.  Hine,  body,  F. 
William  Kalsow,  hip,  F. 
Abel  P.  Turner,  shoulder,  F. 
Augustus  Hussey,  leg,  H. 
Fred  E.  Welton,  arm,  H. 
David  S.  Sears,  groin,  I. 
Thomas  D.  Dushane,  K. 
Jacob  M.  Van  Riper,  K. 

Privates. 

Solomon  S.  Benster,  lungs,  A. 

Francis  Brobacker,  body,  A. 

Oscar  N.  Castle,  body,  A. 

William  Dusick,  thigh,  A. 

Patrick  Gorman    leg,  A. 

Walter  S.  Niles,  bowels,  A. 

Abraham  Schneider,  thigh,  A. 

Victor  Sutter,  Jr.,  w'd  twice,  A. 

David  Wagg,  thigh,  A. 

Philip  Weitz,  groin,  A. 

George  Zulch,  w'd  four  times,  A. 

Andrew  J.  Arnold,  w'd  three  times,   B. 

Willett  Brown,  w'd  three  times,  B. 


178 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


John  Black,  arm  and  leg,  B. 
Richard  Conners,  thigh,  B. 
Edward  B.  Chope,  leg,  B. 
Frederick  Delosh,  arm,  B. 
William  H.  Fowler,  thigh,  B. 
Henry  M.  Fielding,  ankle,  B. 
Franz  Koch,  neck,  B. 
Anton  Krapohl,  body,  B. 
Arthur  Macy,  w'd  twice,  B. 
Terrence  McCullough,  leg,  B. 
James  Mcllhenny,  neck,  B. 
Thomas  Nixon,  leg,  B. 
Patrick  Shannon,  w'd  twice,  B. 
Daniel  Sullivan,  finger  off,   B. 
Lafayette  Veo,  w'd  three  times,  B. 
Henry  Wallace,  w'd  twice,  B. 
Elisha  Wheeler,  shoulder,  B. 
Benjamin  F.  Brigham,  thigh,  C. 
Alfred  Courtrite,  thigh,  C. 
Ammi  R.  Collins,  arm,  C. 
Charles  D.  Durfee,  foot,  C. 
Robert  Everson,  arm,  C. 
Alvah  S.  Hill,  leg,  C. 
George  W.  Kynoch,  shoulder,  C. 
Samuel  W.  Phillips,  foot,  C. 
William  H.  Quance,  body,  C. 
Ambrose  Roe,  body,  C. 
Christian  Stockfleth,  ankle,  C. 
Joseph  A.  Safford,  body,  C. 
Alfred  C.  Willis,  hand,  C. 
Peter  C.  Bird,  thigh,  D. 
Robert  C  Bird,  arm,  D. 
Henry  Babcock,  hand,  D. 
James  N.  Bartlett,  scalp,  D. 
Anthony  Eberts,  body,  D. 
James  H.  Johnson,  leg,  D. 
Samuel  R.  Kingsley,  Jr.,  foot,  D. 
Oliver  M.  Moon,  leg,   D. 
John  Moody,  hand,  D. 
John  Orth,  w'd  and  prisoner,  D. 
Richard  Palmer,  body,  D. 
John  Renton,  both  legs,  D. 
William  W.  Sands,  leg,  D. 
Peter  Stack,  thigh,  D. 
Jesse  R.  Welch,  hand,  D. 
Thomas  Brennan,  both  legs,  E. 
Stephen  Delorme,  hand,  E. 
Martin  Devine,  body,  E. 
William  Floyd,  side,  E. 
John  Frank,  thigh,  E. 


James  D.  Jackson,  hand,   E. 
Frank  Kendrick,  w'd  twice,  E. 
James  Laird,  w'd  twice,  E. 
John  McDermott,  body,  E. 
Henry  Moynahan,  body,  E. 
Charles  Patten,  body,  E. 
Frank  Schneider,  knee,  E. 
Edward  Tracey,  w'd  twice,  E. 
Patrick  Connelly,  foot,  F. 
Charles  Gochy,  knee,  F. 
Charles  E.  Hale,  thigh,  F. 
John  B.  Moores,  body,  F. 
Solomon  R.  Niles,  three  times  w'd, 
George  F.  Neef,  foot,  F. 
Edwin  Plass,  w'd  twice,  F. 
Peter  P.  Rivard,  w'd  twice,  F. 
Frank  T.  Shier,  w'd  twice,  F. 
John  Stoffold,  head,  F. 
Mordaunt  Williams,  twice  w'd,  F. 
Amos  Andrews,  thigh,  G. 
Charles  F.  Allyn,  w'd  twice,  G. 
Michael  Brabeau,  head,  G. 
Theodore  Bach,  mouth,  G. 
Lyman  W.  Blakeley,  body,  G. 
John  Cole,  head,  G. 
James  Ford,  knee,  G. 
George  Hinmonger,  knee,  G. 
William  Harvey,  w'd  twice,  G. 
Enoch  F.  Langs,  w'd  twice,  G. 
Charles  W.  Langs,  w'd  twice,  G. 
Charles  G.  Malley,  breast,  G. 
Jeremiah  Sullivan,  thigh,  G. 
William  H.  Southworth,  face,  G. 
George  E.  Walker,  face,  G. 
Robert  E.  Bolger,  leg,  H. 
Anthony  Brabeau,  mouth,   H. 
Michael  Cunningham,  arm,  H. 
James  F.  Clegg,  arm,  H. 
Michael  Donavan,  w'd  twice,  H, 
Evi  French,  arm,  H. 
Theodore  Grover,  leg,  H. 
Morris  L.  Hoople,  side,  H. 
Charles  M.  Knapp,  hand,  H. 
Dennis  Mahoney,  foot,  H. 
Richard  A.  Riley,  leg,  H. 
Joseph  Schunck,  w'd  twice,  H. 
Frederick  Uebelhoer,  thigh,   IL 
Abner  D.  Austin,  hand,  I. 
Ralph  Archibald,  leg,  I. 
Hiram  Bentley,  side,  I. 


BATTLE   OF   GETTYSBURG. 


179 


Seymour  L.  Burns,  leg,  I. 
Jacob  H.  Canfield,  thigh,  I. 
William  Charlesworth,  arm,  I. 
George  L.  Carey,  arm,  I. 
Ephraim  D.  Cooper,  w'd  twice,  I. 
William  W.  Coon,  w'd  twice,  I. 
Francis  C.  Hodgman,  groin,  I. 
Francis  Hynds,  body,  I. 
James  Magooghan,  body,  I. 
Charles  Robinson,  body,   I. 
Gilbert  Rhoades,  body,  I. 
Henry  Schindehette,  leg,  I. 
Wesley  A.  Tinkham,  back,  I. 
Theodore  B.  Thomas,  arm,  I, 
John  R.  Bruce,  body,  K. 
Andrew  Bruihaumpt,  knee,   K. 
Joseph  Ferstell,  hip,  K. 
Patrick  Gaffney,   thigh,  K. 

David  J.  Kellar,  back,   K. 
James  Leslie,  arm,  K. 

William  D.  Lyon,  body,  K. 

Barney  J.  Litogot,  arm,  K. 

Daniel  W.  Lessee,  knee,  K. 

Eugene  R.  Mills,  body,  K. 

Charles  E.  Miller,  leg,   K. 

Francis  E.  Miller,  hip,  K. 

Andrew  J.  Nowland,  head,   K. 

Sherman  Rice,  shoulder,  K. 

Thomas  Saunders,  leg,  K. 

Jerome  B.  Stockham,  body,  K. 

Enoch  A.  Whipple,  body,  K. 

Gurdon  L.  Wight,  leg,   K. 

PRISONERS   OF   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN 
TAKEN    SOUTH. 

Capt.  GEORGE  C.  GORDON,  I. 
ist  Lieut.  ARA  W.  SPRAGUE,  F. 
2d  Lieut.  H.  REES  WHITING,  A. 
Sergt.  Charles  A.  King,  D. 

"      William  H.  Hoffman,  H. 

"      John  R.  King,  H. 

"      B.  Ross  Finlayson,  K. 

"      Ira  W.  Fletcher,  w'd,  K. 
Corp.  John  C.  Sherwood,  C. 

"      James  Gillespie,  C. 

"      John  M.  Andres,  w'd,  D. 

"      Thomas  G.  Norton,  E. 

"      Henry  L.  Houk,  w'd,  I. 

"      Orville  W.  Stringer,  I. 


Privates. 
Max  Couture,  A, 
Peter  N.  Girardin,  w'd,  A. 
Augustus  R.  Sink,  w'd,  A. 
Oscar  A.  Eckliff,  B. 
Charles  D.  Minckler,  B. 
Morris  Troutt,  B. 
D.  Leroy  Adams,  C. 
John  A.  Bartlett,  C. 
William  A.  Herrendeen,  C. 
Joshua  Minthorn,  C. 
John  C.  Marshall,  C. 
Charles  W.  Root,  C. 
James  S.  Seeley,  C. 
Robert  Towers,  C. 
Almon  J.  Houston,   D. 
Merritt  B.  Heath,  D. 
George  H.  Lang,  D. 
Melvin  H.  Storms,  w'd,  D. 
Moses  Amo,  E. 
Dennis  Dryden,  E. 
James  Donavan,  E. 
Lewis  Grant,  E. 
Robert  Gaunt,  w'd,  E. 
Patrick  J.  Kinney,  E. 
Nelson  Pelon,  E. 
Frederick  Stotte,  E. 
Abraham  Akey,  F. 
John  G.  Klink,  F. 
Antoine  LaBlanc,  F. 
Joseph  P.  Rivard,  w'd,   F. 
William  R.  Shier,  F. 

Henry  Bierkamp,  G. 

Philip  T.  Dunroe,  H. 

Marquis  L.  Lapaugh,  H. 

Frederick  Bosardis,  I. 

William  A.  Flynn,  I. 

Peter  Jackson,    I. 

AlpLeus  Johnson,  I. 

August  Lahser,  w'd,  I. 

David  W.  Tillman,  I. 

Franklin  A.  Blanchard,  K 

Charles  S.  Hosmer,  K. 

John  J.  Post,   K. 

PRISONERS    OF    TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN 
PAROLED    ON    FIELD    AND    MARCH. 

Sergt.  John  Hogan,  E. 
"  John  Roach,  E. 
"  E.  Ben  Fischer,  D. 


i8o 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


Corp.  Fred  A.  Hanstine,  A. 
"      Lewis  L.  Wadsworth,  A. 
"      William  Bruskie,  D. 

Privates. 

Harrison  Baker,  A. 
Jonathan  D.  Chase,  A. 
John  Chandler,  A. 
William  Rousseau,  A. 
Charles  Willaird,  A. 
Robert  Wortley,  A. 
Amander  G.  Barns,  wounded,  B. 
George  F.  Higbee,  B. 
William  H.  Ingersoll,  B. 
Richard  Maloney,  wounded,  B. 
John  McCutcheon,  wounded,  B. 
Jeston  R.  Warner,  B. 
George  P.  Hubbell,  C. 
Draugott  Haberstrite,  D. 
Conrad  Kocher,  D. 
Henry  H.  Ladd,  wounded,  D. 
James  Renton,  D. 


Henry  W.  Randall,  wounded,  D. 

Albert  A.  Wallace,  D. 

Joseph  Hirsch,  E. 

Henry  C.  Chapman,  wounded,  F. 

David  H.  Campbell,  F. 

Sheldon  E.  Crittenden,  F. 

Peter  Ford,  F. 

Adolph  Fritsch,  F. 

Elisha  C.  Reed,  F. 

John  Broombar,  wounded,  G. 

John  Butler,  G. 

John  Cavanaugh,  G. 

Charles  A.  Wilson,  G. 

Thomas  Fitzgibbons,  H. 

John  H.  Fryer,  K. 

Missing. 

Corp.  Bela  C.  Ide,  C. 
Herman  Schultz,  G. 
Nicholas  Ruby,  H. 
Joseph  Ruby,  H. 
Conrad  Springer,  K. 


SUMMARY. 

The  following  is  a  summary  of  the  casualties  and  losses  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Mich 
igan  Infantry  at  Gettysburg,  as  given  above  : 

1.  Killed  and  Died  of  Wounds — Officers,  8  ;  non-commissioned  officers,  26  ;  privates,  56. 
Total,  90. 

2.  Wounded — Field  and  staff  officers,  3  ;  line  officers,  n  ;  non-commissioned  officers,  48; 
privates,  170.     Total,  232. 

3.  Prisoners    Taken   South — Officers,    3  ;    non-commissioned    officers,    10 ;    privates,  44. 
Total,  57. 

4.  Prisoners  Paroled — Non-commissioned  officers,  6  ;  privates,  32.     Total,  38. 

5.  Missing — Non-commissioned  officer,  I  ;  privates,  5-     Total,  6. 

6.  Aggregate  of  casualties  and  losses,  422. 

7.  Deduct  prisoners  counted  among  wounded,  17  ;  wounded  in  battery,  9.     Total,  26. 

8.  Total  net  loss  (besides  those  in  battery),  397. 

9.  Remaining  with  flag  first  night  of  battle,  99. 
10.     Entering  battle  with  regiment,  496. 

Fox  places  the  death  loss  at  94,  but  since  the  war  closed  two  of  the  reported  dead  have 
turned  up  alive.  This  leaves  still  two  unaccounted  for  as  between  his  research  and  our  own. 
Total  killed  and  wounded,  317.  Per  cent,  of  killed  and  wounded,  64.  Per  cent,  of  loss,  80. 
Of  the  captured,  5  died  in  confederate  prisons  and  two  died  of  prison  disease  after  exchange. 
Of  the  wounded,  6  died  of  disease,  62  were  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  for 
wounds  and  5  for  disability  ;  47  were  discharged  for  wounds  and  12  for  disability.  There 
returned  to  the  regiment,  93  of  the  wounded  and  64  of  the  prisoners  and  missing,  a  total  of 
I55i  while  out  of  the  496  who  went  into  the  battle,  240,  or  very  nearly  one-half,  never  again 
saw  the  face  of  the  regiment. 


BATTLE   OF    GETTYSBURG. 


181 


PERSONAL   INCIDENTS. 

Many  incidents  of  interest  occurred  in  connection  with  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  in  this  engagement.  We  can  mention  but 
few.  Lieutenant  William  R.  Dodsley  was  the  first  officer  of  the 
regiment  wounded,  and  Lieutenant  Gilbert  A.  Dickey,  the  first  officer 
killed.  Captain  Malachi  J.  O'Donnell  was  the  last  officer  killed  outright. 
Lieutenant  Newell  Grace  received  three  mortal  wounds  soon  after. 
Captain  A.  M.  Edwards,  Lieutenants  George  Hutton  and  John 
Witherspoon  were  the  only  officers  left  uninjured.  Of  the  other 
twenty-five  officers,  eight  were  killed,  fourteen  were  wounded  and 
three  captured.  First  Sergeant  E.  B.  Welton  of  H  was  the  only 
Orderly  Sergeant  left. 

Color  Sergeant  Abel  G.  Peck  was  the  first  man  of  the  regiment 
killed  on  this  bloody  field.  He  was  a  stalwart  farmer  of  Nankin  and 
bravely  met  his  fate.  Colonel  Morrow  said  of  him :  "  He  was 
singularly  pure  in  his  private  life,  and  in  all  the  engagements  in  which 
his  regiment  took  part,  he  was  conspicuous  for  his  gallantry."  Said 
Chaplain  Way:  "Where  his  body  lies,  none  knows  but  'Him  who 
watches  all  our  dust,'  but  his  memory  is  embalmed  in  the  hearts 
of  his  comrades." 

Private  William  Smith  of  B  was  the  first  man  of  the  regiment 
wounded  here,  losing  an  arm.  Seven  of  the  Companies  had  not  a 
single  officer  left,  and  the  other  three  companies  but  one  officer  each. 
B  had  but  ten  men  left,  C  had  but  three,  D  had  eleven,  I  had  only 
eight,  and  so  on. 

Edward  B.  Harrison  of  H  was  wounded  and  John  Malcho  was 
helping  him  off  the  field.  John  W.  Welsh  of  G  took  Harrison's  other 
arm,  and  while  thus  assisting  their  wounded  comrade,  a  Confederate 
bullet  killed  Welch  instantly,  and  at  the  same  moment  another  bullet 


LUTHERAN  SEMINARY,  GETTYSBURG. 


1 82  HISTORY   OF   THE  TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN. 

instantly  killed  Harrison,  and  tore  off  a  part  of  Malcho's  shoe. 
Harrison  and  Welch  fell  side  by  side.  In  life  they  had  been  friends, 
and  were  buried  in  one  grave. 

Corporal  Thomas  Suggett  of  G  was  one  of  the  color  guard  and 
mortally  wounded.  Some  ]time  before,  when  Colonel  Morrow  called 
for  volunteers  for  the  color  guard,  saying,  they  must  be  men  of  iron, 
as  the  bullets  would  rattle  off  from  them  like  hail  from  a  roof, 
Corporal  Suggett  was  the  first  to  step  out  of  the  ranks  to  be  one  of 
the  brave  color  defenders. 

Corporal  Andrew  Wagner  who  was  shot  through  the  breast  while 
carrying  the  colors,  lay  twenty-four  hours  where  he  fell,  and  was 
robbed  by  the  enemy  of  his  money  and  shoes.  Then  they  made  for 
him  a  pillow  as  they  thought,  for  his  dying  head.  He  was  the  only 
survivor  of  t^vo  entire  color  guards  on  that  day,  but  died  of  his 
wound  three  years  later. 

Many  received  an  additional  wound  while  lying  on  the  field,  and 
relief  did  not  come  for  several  days  and  nights,  nor  until  the  maggots 
began  to  crawl  and  fatten  in  their  festering  wounds!  Gladly  would 
we  continue  these  incidents,  though  some  would  be  revolting  to 
tender  feelings.  The  recital  of  other  events  will  crowd  them  out. 

On  the  morning  of  July  i,  four  members  of  B — Andrew  J. 
Arnold,  George  H.  Pinkney,  Richard  Conners  and  John  S.  Rider  had 
obtained  the  Surgeon's  permission  to  fall  out  of  the  ranks.  Upon 
hearing  the  booming  of  the  cannon  they  realized  that  a  battle  was 
coming  and  desiring  to  keep  their  record  unbroken  by  being  in  every 
action  with  their  regiment,  they  hurried  to  the  field  to  be  with  their 
Company.  Within  an  hour  every  one  of  the  four  lay  on  the  field  with 
a  bullet  in  his  body.  Rider  lost  an  arm  and  died  of  his  wounds. 
Such  devotion  to  duty  is  worthy  of  record. 

"OLD   JOHN   BURNS." 

On  the  first  day  of  the  battle,  Constable  John  L.  Burns  of 
Gettysburg,  over  seventy  years  of  age,  upon  hearing  the  firing,  seized 
his  old-fashioned  rifle,  ran  across  the  field  and  offered  his  services  to 
Colonel  Wister  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fiftieth  Pennsylvania. 
Afterwards  he  went  over  to  the  Second  Wisconsin  on  the  right  of  the 
Iron  Brigade.  He  wore  an  old  banged-up,  bell-crowned  hat,  and 
swallow-tailed  coat.  His  unique  dress  and  temerity  in  venturing  into 
so  dangerous  a  place  without  occasion,  seemed  the  act  of  an  insane 
zealot,  and  invited  the  jibes  of  the  men.  Thence  he  passed  on  to  the 


BATTLE   OF   GETTYSBURG. 


183 


Seventh  Wisconsin  where  he  remained  awhile.  Next  he  passed  over 
to  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  and  was  with  the  latter  regiment  in 
the  east  edge  of  McPherson's  woods,  when  he  was  wounded.  He 


i(,  •'"""••"     "Vil" '^3~     ''    "  I 


JOHN   BURN:- 


M    A    PHOTOGRAPH    SOLD 


BY    HIMSELF   AFTER   THE    BATTLE 


fought  till  three  bullets  were  lodged  in  his  body.  His  wounds  were 
dressed  by  Assistant-Surgeon  Collar  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan. 
On  July  15,  1863,  Chaplain  VV.  C.  Way  wrote  of  him  thus: 

We  called  upon  the  old  patriot,  Mr.  Burns,  the  other  day  and  found  him  quite 
comfortable.  He  is  the  man,  though  past  seventy,  who  shouldered  his  musket  and 
went  to  the  field  and  fought  with  the  Iron  Brigade.  He  is  made  of  the  right  kind  of 
stuff.  Let  his  name  be  recorded  in  history  as  an  example  of  mature  patriotism. 

General  Doubleday  commended  his  conduct  and  the  old  man's 
fame  has  found  a  place  in  the  school  literature  of  the  land.  Many  a 
youth  has  declaimed  the  poet's  lines  on  his  patriotic  conduct.  He 
lived  to  be  over  eighty  years  old  and  lies  buried  by  his  wife  at 
Gettysburg. 


184  HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


EXTRACTS   FROM   WAR-TIME   LETTERS. 

Members  and  friends  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  remember 
with  what  interest  were  perused,  in  war  days,  the  articles  of  S.  D.  G. 
in  the  Detroit  Free  Press.  Their  author  was  Sergeant  Sullivan  D. 
Green  of  F  and  the  N.  C.  S.  Below  are  some  extracts  from  his  letters 
in  those  days: 

GULP'S  HILL,  July  2.  1863. —  If  ever  one  sat  down  with  a  sad  heart  to  write,  that 
task  is  mine  this  morning,  surrounded  by  the  broken  fragments  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
which  has  now  indeed  "been  all  cut  in  pieces."  Seven  officers  and  four  of  them 
wounded  are  all  we  have  with  us,  out  of  twenty-eight ;  and  ninety-nine  men  out  of 
five  hundred  and  s'eventeen*  in  yesterday's  field  report,  after  the  fiercest  battle  of  the 
war.  Our  list  of  killed  and  wounded  receives  additions  every  few  hours,  from  the 
missing  who  bring  us  the  names  of  those  they  saw  fall.  This  fearful  list  tells  in 
what  a  storm  of  balls  they  stood  their  ground,  slowly  falling  back  with  grim  and 
bloody  front  to  the  foe,  foot  by  foot,  first  to  the  fence  then  behind  trees  and  piles  of 
wood,  and  finally  through  the  town,  while  a  deadly  fire,  in  flank  and  rear,  cut  through 
the  streets.  The  day  for  us  was  fearful  and  our  thoughts  turn  to  those  at  home 
whose  dear  ones  lie  on  yonder  field;  some  in  their  last  gory  sleep,  others  suffering  from 
wounds  and  no  aid  near  them.  Some  were  struck  while  passing  through  the  town 
and  most  of  those  captured  were  taken  there. 

ON  BATTLE-FIELD,  July  4,  1863.  Colonel  Morrow  has  just  come  out  of  the  city, 
which  the  enemy  left  during  the  night,  but  their  lines  still  inclose  our  first  and 
bloodiest  field.  Last  night  the  Colonel  visited  that  scene  of  conflict  and  brought  in 
some  of  the  wounded  who  had  lain  there  three  days  with  no  care  except  what  the 
rebels  bestowed,  who  gave  them  water  and  treated  them  well.  They,  however, 
stripped  and  robbed  the  bodies  of  the  dead  who  still  lie  there  so  bloated  as  to  be 
unrecognizable.  Our  wounded  were  full  of  enthusiasm,  though  unable  to  move,  with 
limbs  crushed  and  swollen,  and  without  food.  They  greeted  the  Colonel  with  a  cheer 
and  asked  him  how  he  was  now  satisfied  with  the  Twenty-fourth. 

ON  BATTLE-FIELD,  Sunday,  July  5,  1863. —  We  have  changed  position  to  near  the 
scene  of  the  rebels'  desperate  and  final  charge.  Here  are  evidences  of  the  struggle  — 
the  ground  trampled  down  ;  buildings  riddled  with  shot  or  in  black  ruins  ;  trees  cut 
and  fences  splintered  with  grape  on  Pickett's  charge.  Details  are  still  burying  the 
rebel  dead,  and  the  long  trenches  of  fresh  filled  earth  attest  the  fullness  of  death's 
harvest,  while  lesser  heaps  of  rocks  and  clumps  of  bushes  show  where  a  sharpshooter 
met  his  fate.  Yonder  is  the  crest  of  a  shallow  ravine,  thickly  wooded,  and  the  field 
whence  came  the  attacking  forces  to  defeat  and  death.  Between  yonder  belts  of 
timber  a  mile  away  is  the  field  of  the  Twenty-fourth's  dead.  Our  comrades  lie  there 
unburied  on  the  field  consecrated  with  their  blood.  Some  of  our  boys  have  visited  the 
field  and  the  doubt  that  hung  over  the  fate  of  the  'missing'  has  been  partly  cleared 
away.  That  list,  so  full  of  suspense,  has  been  diminished  and  the  'killed'  and 
'wounded'  lists  increased.  There  is  no  time  for  search  for  the  killed  that  lie  on  all 


*  NOTE — Twenty-one  of  the  regiment  had  been  detailed  to  do  duty  at  Corps  Headquarters  and 
though  carried  in  the  field  reports,  were  not  in  the  action.  These  deducted  from  517  left  the  496  who 
fought  on  the  field. 


BATTLE   OF   GETTYSBURG.  185 

portions  of  the  field.  The  army  is  in  motion  towards  the  retreating  invaders. 
Stranger  hands  will  bury  our  late  comrades  and  your  friends,  mourners  in  the 
Peninsular  State,  and  you  will  think  of 

"A  nameless  grave  on  the  battle-field." 

They  are  as  near  heaven  as  if  they  lay  in  Elmwood.  In  this  their  last  battle  they  did 
nobly  sustain  the  honor  of  their  State. 

Captain  A.  M.  Edwards  wrote  as  follows  to  the  Detroit   Tribune: 

GULP'S  HILL,  July  5,  1863.  —  I  send  you  a  list  of  casualties  and  losses  as  far  as 
known.  The  list  is  terrible.  I  forbear  comments.  Our  wounded  and  missing  are 
mostly  prisoners.  Five  color-bearers  were  killed  but  our  colors  are  safe.  All  three  of 
our  surgeons  are  prisoners.  No  regiment  from  our  State  ever  suffered  so  much  in 
one  battle.  There  will  be  many  sad  hearts  in  Wayne  County,  but  we  carry  the  sweet 
reflection  that  our  blood  was  not  spilled  in  vain.  We  have  gained  a  glorious  victory. 
Our  boys,  what  is  left  of  them,  are  in  good  spirits. 

The  following  are  extracts  from  Chaplain  William  C.  Way's 
letters  to  the  Detroit  Tribune  : 

GETTYSBURG,  PA.,  July  7,  1863.  —  It  is  sad  to  look  upon  the  decimated  ranks  of 
one  of  the  bravest  regiments  that  ever  left  the  Wolverine  State.  Gettysburg  is  one 
vast  hospital.  The  Court  House,  College,  Seminary,  Churches,  Schoolhouses, 
warehouses  and  private  buildings  are  filled  with  wounded.  Very  many  are  kindly 
cared  for  by  citizens  in  their  residences.  Our  surgeons,  Drs.  Beach  and  Collar  are  in 
full  charge  of  one  of  the  hospitals.  Dr.  Towar  has  gone  to  the  regiment.  I  went 
upon  the  field  with  two  of  our  regiment  and  buried  several  of  our  fallen  comrades, 
and  there  witnessed  a  savage  vandalism  —  our  dead  were  robbed  of  everything,  their 
bodies  stripped  of  clothing  and  shoes  ! 

GETTYSBURG,  July  15,  1863.  —  I  have  been  constantly  engaged  in  the  comfort  of 
our  wounded  and  astonished  at  their  cheerfulness.  Their  "stumps"  are  doing  nicely. 
Our  regimental  band  deserve  credit  for  their  efforts  as  nurses.  The  town  is  filled  with 
sad  hearted  relatives.  It  is  saddening  to  stand  near  the  Express  office  and  see  the 
coffined  remains  of  hundreds  being  sent  to  their  former  homes.  Many  are  dying  and 
it  is  almost  impossible  to  get  a  coffin. 

GETTYSBURG,  August  7,  1863.  —  Some  of  our  noble  boys  are  not  yet  out  of 
danger,  yet  we  trust  that  God  will  answer  prayer  and  restore  them  to  their  friends. 
Many  of  the  Rebel  wounded  are  loud  in  their  praises  for  their  kind  treatment.  They 
receive  the  same  care  as  our  own  men,  which  contrasts  strangely  with  the  treatment 
of  our  prisoners  in  Dixie. 

Soon  after  news  of  the  battle  reached  Detroit,  Rev.  George 
Duffield,  a  very  patriotic  Detroit  clergyman,  hastened  to  the 
battlefield  and  wrote  to  the  Detroit  Tribune  as  follows : 

GETTYSBURG,  July  9,  1863.  —  Many  of  our  dead  are  still  unburied.  A  hundred 
times  to-day  would  I  have  given  a  score  of  "D.  D's"  for  one  "  M.  D."  A  single  day 
here  would  pay  for  the  study  of  surgery  for  a  lifetime.  Yesterday  we  started  for  a 
field  hospital  two  miles  from  town,  where  were  some  of  the  Twenty-Fourth.  Soon 


1 86  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

the  road  appeared  full  of  wounded  to  whom  the  order  had  come  that  all  able  to  walk 
might  go  to  the  depot  and  thence  to  Baltimore  with  a  prospect  of  a  furlough  home. 
Oh,  the  magic  of  the  word  home,  and  what  almost  superhuman  efforts  of  the 
wounded  to  get  there!  Such  bandaged  heads,  battered  faces,  naked  and  swollen 
limbs,  I  pray  never  to  see  again.  And  then  such  extraordinary  efforts  at  locomotion 
—  some  with  one  crutch,  some  with  two,  some  hopping  with  a  stick,  some  holding  on 
by  the  fence,  and  crawling  even,  to  lose  no  time.  Ever  since  the  battle  the  heavens 
have  been  pouring  their  tears  over  the  scene  of  blood.  The  weather  continues  cool 
and  thousands  will  owe  their  lives  to  the  rain  and  opportune  weather.  The  bullets 
taken  from  the  bodies  of  our  soldiers  and  which  they  proudly  show,  will  be  more 
precious  in  the  eyes  of  posterity  than  pearls. 

The  Detroit  Board  of  Trade  sent  a  committee  to  the  battlefield 
to  look  after  the  Twenty-Fourth's  men  and  "  C.  R.  B."  thus  wrote  to 
the  Detroit  Tribune : 

GETTYSBURG,  July  12,  1863.  —  We  find  ourselves  amid  scenes  only  seen  near  a 
battlefield  —  streets  filled  with  soldiers  with  arms  in  slings  or  heads  bandaged, 
surgeons  and  strangers  from  every  part  of  the  North.  The  windows  are  removed 
from  most  of  the  houses  to  allow  more  air  to  the  wounded  within.  It  is  sad  to  see 
noble  forms  stretched  out  on  the  floors,  wounded  in  every  way;  many  trying  to  repress 
groans  of  anguish;  some  doomed  to  a  lingering  death;  others  maimed  for  life.  I  was 
shocked  at  the  sight  of  one  of  Company  D  lying  in  a  feed  store,  shot  through  the 
thigh,  but  happy  in  the  hope  of  restoration  to  friends.  Alas,  the  doctors  say  he  is 
doomed  to  die.* 

I  walked  over  the  field  where  the  Twenty-Fourth  fought  and  its  dead  lie  buried. 
The  scene  of  their  severest  fighting  was  in  a  beautiful  grove,  covered  now  with 
graves  almost  as  thickly  as  in  a  cemetery,  and  nearly  all  the  trees  are  bullet  scarred. 
Many  of  the  graves  of  our  fallen  are  marked,  but  many  are  unrecognizable.  The 
fathers  of  Lieutenants  Dickey  and  Wallace  found  where  their  sons  lay,  and  bitter 
tears  were  shed  by  these  afflicted  parents  over  the  graves  of  their  noble  boys.  This 
spot  should  be  marked  by  a  monument  to  Wayne  County's  own  regiment,  that 
strangers  and  future  generations  may  know  of  the  brave  conduct  here,  of  the 
Twenty-Fourth  Michigan.  Is  the  cause  they  are  fighting  for  worth  all  this?  Go  to 
the  wounded  soldiers  on  this  gory  field,  and  with  sparkling  eyes  and  flushed  cheeks, 
they  will  answer,  yes. 

Brigadier-General  Meredith,  who  was  wounded,  wrote  to  Colonel 
Morrow  on  July  17,  1863,  from  his  bed  in  Washington,  as  follows: 

I  cannot  longer  delay  tendering  to  you  and  your  brave  men,  my  heartfelt 
thanks  for  the  gallant  bearing  of  yourself  and  regiment  in  the  battle  of  the  ist  inst. 
No  troops  ever  fought  with  more  bravery  than  did  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  on 
that  occasion.  The  old  Iron  Brigade  had  to  meet  the  first  shock  of  a  desperate  attack 
of  a  far  superior  force,  and  nobly  did  it  do  its  duty.  You  and  your  officers  and  men 
are  justly  entitled  to  a  full  measure  of  the  honors  won  ip  that  great  conflict  and  will 
receive  the  gratitude  of  all  who  love  our  glorious  Union  and  its  holy  cause. 


*  Peter  C.  Bird,  late  Deputy  Register  of  Deeds,  Wayne  County. 


BATTLE   OF   GETTYSBURG.  l8/ 

General  A.  P.  Hill  of  the  Confederate  army  declared  while  in 
Gettysburg  that  he  "  never  knew  troops  to  fight  better  than  those 
who  opposed  him  on  the  first  day."  General  Ewell  said  he  was 
surprised  when  Colonel  Morrow's  men  fired  upon  his  advance. 
Ewell's  troops  purposely  withheld  their  fire  "to  capture  them  alive," 
but  when  they  received  a  volley  at  very  close  range  from  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  and  Iron  Brigade  they  could  not  do  otherwise 
than  return  the  fire.  A  conversation  occurred  between  General  Ewell 
and  Colonel  Morrow  while  a  prisoner.  Ewell  said  the  Twenty-fourth 
Michigan  were  foolish  that  they  did  not  surrender,  in  preference  to 
being  so  badly  cut  up.  The  answer  of  Colonel  Morrow  was  to  the 
point,  and  brought  a  blush  to  his  fellow-born  Virginian  :  "General 
Ewell,  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  came  here  to  fight,  not  to 
surrender." 

SPEECH    OF   COLONEL   MORROW    IN   DETROIT. 

While  on  a  visit  home  after  the  battle,  Colonel  Morrow  declined 
a  reception  but  consented  to  address  the  entire  people  on  the  Campus 
Martius,  on  Thursday,  July  30,  1863,  at  4  o'clock  P.  M.  A  very  large 
concourse  of  people  assembled  to  hear  him,  and  many  eyes  were 
suffused  with  tears  during  his  eloquent  and  pathetic  speech,  from 
which  we  give  the  following  extracts : 

FRIENDS  AND  FELLOW  CITIZENS  :  I  have  no  language  to  express  my  feelings  on 
this  occasion.  Less  than  one  year  ago,  I  left  this  beautiful  city  with  the  husbands, 
sons  and  friends  of  the  people  of  Detroit  and  Wayne  County.  Less  than  a  year  has 
sufficed  to  wipe  that  splendid  regiment  almost  out  of  existence,  and  I  stand  here 
almost  alone  out  of  all  the  brave  men  who  marched  through  these  streets  for  the  seat 
of  war  on  the  2gth  of  August  last. 

Where  are  those  boys  that  went  with  me?  Alas,  many  occupy  graves  in 
southern  soil.  They  died  as  soldiers  should  die,  with  faces  to  the  foe,  upholding  the 
banner  of  our  country.  They  have  indeed  gone,  but  they  will  live  in  your  hearts  and 
in  the  memory  of  their  countrymen  for  all  coming  time.  I  come  back  to  you  after 
having  led  my  boys  to  victory  to  render  my  account. 

At  Fredericksburg  your  regiment  received  its  baptism  of  fire,  winning  praise 
for  its  coolness  and  gallantry.  It  has  behaved  everywhere.  At  Fitzhugh  Crossing  it 
had  the  honor  of  planting  the  first  flag  on  the  opposite  bank. 

On  the  first  of  this  month,  we  were  marching  and  joking,  with  no  idea  of  being 
on  the  verge  of  a  battle.  An  occasional  booming  of  cannon  was  not  strange,  yet 
indicating  that  our  cavalry  had  met  the  enemy.  It  became  more  constant  and  with  a 
quickstep  we  marched  for  Gettysburg,  passing  to  the  left  of  the  town.  We  crossed  an 
insignificant  branch  and  were  moved  forward  into  line  on  the  double-quick.  An 
order  came  to  charge  at  once.  The  regiment  had  unfixed  bayonets  and  unloaded 
guns.  I  halted  the  men,  had  them  fix  bayonets  and  they  had  partially  loaded,  when 
the  order  came  again  to  advance,  the  men  finishing  loading  while  advancing  and 


188  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

came  to  the  brow  of  a  hill.  We  then  saw  our  danger,  charged  down  into  the  ravine 
through  which  flows  Willoughby's  Run,  where  we  captured  a  Rebel  brigade  of  1,500 
men  with  General  Archer  its  commander. 

I  had  lost  my  color-sergeant,  Abel  G.  Peck,  several  of  my  color  guard  and  men. 
We  changed  front,  advancing  to  the  crest  of  the  hill  beyond  the  Run,  but  soon  after 
withdrew  to  the  eastern  bank  of  the  stream  and  formed  in  McPherson's  woods. 
During  this  movement  my  Adjutant  was  severely  wounded,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Flanigan  lost  a  leg.  I  helped  him  off  his  horse  where  he  lay  for  two  hours.  Company 
B  under  Lieutenant  Buhl,  a  brave  and  gallant  soldier,  dignified  and  efficient  officer, 
were  sent  out  as  skirmishers.  Captain  Rexford  had  already  been  wounded.  From 
some  prisoners  sent  in  by  Lieutenant  Buhl,  I  learned  that  the  entire  corps  of 
Generals  Ewell  and  A.  P.  Hill  were  in  our  front.  I  several  times  sent  to  the 
General  commanding  suggesting  a  change  of  position  as  it  was,  to  my  judgment, 
untenable.  The  only  reply  was  that  the  position  must  be  held. 

Soon  after  the  rebels  advanced  in  two  lines  of  battle  with  their  splendid 
banners,  greatly  overlapping  us  on  the  left,  almost  su-rrounding  us.  The 
Twenty-Fourth  was  lying  down  resting.  I  called  them  up,  and  when  the  Rebels  got 
near,  gave  the  order  to  fire  by  file.  The  Nineteenth  Indiana,  on  our  left,  after 
maintaining  their  line  until  their  dead  were  thick  upon  the  ground,  became 
overpowered  and  gave  way,  which  left  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  to  bear  the  brunt 
of  the  battle  alone.  We  fought  until  nearly  surrounded,  to  prevent  which,  Captain 
Speed  (acting  as  Major  in  place  of  Major  E.  B.  Wight,  who  had  been  wounded), 
started  to  change  the  front  of  two  companies,  and  was  instantly  killed.  Over  fifty 
fell  here  and  we  were  forced  to  fall  back  a  little  distance,  where  all  my  color  guard 
were  shot  down. 

We  then  fell  back  and  rallied  again,  losing  over  one  hundred  men.  Again  we 
fell  back  and  rallied,  the  men  being  literally  slaughtered  as  they  tried  to  form. 
Finally  the  whole  corps  having  fallen  back,  the  Twenty-fourth  also  fell  back  to  the 
Seminary.  Here  I  was  wounded  in  the  head  and  stunned,  when  I  turned  the 
regiment  over  to  Captain  Edwards. 

My  head  was  dressed  by  a  lady  of  Gettysburg,  a  true  Union  girl,  who  wanted 
to  hide  me  when  the  rebels  came  into  town.  I  refused  as  they  were  sure  to  search  the 
house.  There  were  other  wounded  there  and  soon  the  rebels  ordered  us  all  into  the 
street.  We  were  marched  four  miles  to  the  rebel  camp  where  I  found  fifty-four  of 
my  regiment,  some  wounded  and  some  taken  while  firing  their  guns.  I  slept  in  an 
open  field  and  the  next  morning  a  rebel  surgeon  dressed  my  head.  He  said  I  was  not 
fit  to  march  [both  were  Master  Masons]  and  sent  me  to  the  hospital,  while  the  other 
prisoners  were  sent  to  Richmond. 

When  I  got  back  to  Gettysburg  I  was  left  to  myself  and  I  cut  off  my  shoulder 
straps  and  became  a  sort  of  surgeon.  With  Assistant-Surgeon  Collar,  indefatigable 
in  season  and  out,  I  visited  the  hospitals  and  battlefield  of  July  3,  determining 
the  names  of  the  fallen,  and  helped  bring  in  the  wounded.  In  a  barn  among  200 
others,  I  found  a  brave  little  Irish  boy  from  Detroit — Patrick  Cleary — who  told  me 
that  the  doctor  said  he  could  not  live.  I  told  him  the  doctor  was  the  best  judge  and 
he  had  better  prepare  to  die.  Said  he,  "Colonel,  if  you'll  have  my  leg  taken  off,  I'll 
be  with  the  regiment  in  a  week.  Ain't  you  proud  of  the  Twenty-fourth  now?"  God 
bless  that  boy.  His  leg  was  taken  off  but  he  is  dead  now.  [A  voice,  "  He  is  yet 
alive."]!  am  glad  to  hear  it  He  is  a  credit  to  his  native  and  adopted  country. 

One  of  the  officers  captured  by  us  at  Fitzhugh  Crossing  met  me  at  Gettysburg 
while  I  was  a  prisoner.  He  came  up  to  me  and  said,  "You  don't  seem  to  know  me. 
Your  regiment  captured  me  at  Fitzhugh."  Said  I,  "  Glad  of  it.  Didn't  we  treat  you 


BATTLE   OF   GETTYSBURG.  189 

well?"  "  Bully,"  said  he.  "  Then  treat  me  the  same."  "We  will.  Where  are  your 
straps?"  "  I  have  lost  them  for  the  time  being,"  said  I.  He  replied,  "All  right.  I'll 
not  say  a  word."  He  kept  his  promise  and  the  rebels  took  me  for  a  surgeon. 

On  the  last  day  of  the  great  battle,  I  went  into  a  steeple  to  see  the  great  attack 
upon  the  Union  centre.  An  old  man  who  had  come  up  into  the  steeple,  white-haired 
and  venerable,  stretched  up  his  hands  and  made  such  a  prayer  as  I  never  before 
heard,  beseeching  most  earnestly  for  victory  of  our  arms.  It  was  an  exciting  moment. 
The  terrible  cannonading  ceased  and  there  was  an  awful  pause,  just  before  their 
infantry  attack.  The  rebel  lines  stretching  as  far  as  the  eye  could  see,  advanced  to 
the  charge.  Our  skirmishers  fell  back,  every  Union  gun  was  turned  upon  the 
advancing  column,  and  finally  the  firing  ceased.  The  smoke  arose  and  revealed  the 
enemy  fleeing  in  confusion.  We  had  won  a  most  glorious  victory  and  that  night  Lee 
retreated  leaving  15,000  wounded  in  our  hands.  I  went  down  and  told  the  boys  in 
our  hospital  warning  them  not  to  shout  as  the  rebels  still  held  the  town.  Of  course 
all  were  immensely  pleased. 

A  word  for  our  dead.  Braver  men  never  went  to  war.  Captain  Speed  was 
gallant  and  noted  for  his  amiable  qualities.  Well  posted  in  military  tactics,  had  he 
lived,  he  would  have  entered  the  regular  army.  Captain  O'Donnell  went  out  as  a 
Second  Lieutenant  and  his  bravery  and  virtues  had  won  for  him  a  Captaincy. 
He  was  killed  near  the  last  rally,  shot  through  the  head.  He  had  fought  by  my  side 
for  three  hours  and  fell  with  his  sword  aloft,  cheering  on  his  men.  The  enemy 
stripped  his  body  of  clothing  as  they  did  all  our  dead,  and  it  was  impossible  to 
identify  his  remains.  I  saw  Lieutenant  Dickey  fall.  He  has  the  glorious  honor  of 
falling  nearest  the  rebel  lines  of  any  soldier  at  Gettysburg.  I  picked  him  up  myself. 
Lieutenant  Grace  commanded  his  company  during  the  battle.  He  was  wounded  near 
the  rail  fence  and  taken  to  the  Seminary.  Being  told  that  his  wounds  were  mortal, 
he  disposed  of  his  effects  and  died  on  the  3d  while  the  battle  waged  fiercest.  The 
other  Lieutenants  were  daring  men,  as  well  as  all  my  non-commissioned  officers  and 
privates  who  fell  on  that  terrible  but  glorious  day.  The  whole  regiment  discharged 
its  duty  acceptably  and  won  the  admiration  of  the  whole  army  of  the  Potomac. 

FROM  COLONEL  MORROW'S  OFFICIAL  REPORT. 

Some  portions  of  Colonel  Morrow's  official  report  refer  to  what 
has  already  been  treated  in  the  preceding  pages.  Such  parts  are 
omitted  below.  We  quote  the  following  extracts : 

Previous  to  abandoning  our  last  position,  orders  came  to  fall  back.  Captain 
Edwards  behaved  very  gallantly  in  rallying  the  men  under  a  murderous  fire.  The 
field  over  which  we  fought  from  our  first  line  in  McPherson's  woods  to  the  barricade 
near  the  Seminary  was  strewn  with  killed  and  wounded.  Our  losses  were  very  large, 
including  three  hundred  and  sixteen  killed  and  wounded  and  about  eighty  men  and 
officers  missing,  in  the  action,  many  of  whom  have  never  been  heard  from. 

Of  the  killed,  their  conduct  was  brave  and  creditable  to  themselves  and  the 
service.  Captain  Speed's  death  was  a  severe  loss  to  the  service  and  an  almost 
irreparable  one  to  the  regiment.  Captain  O'Donnell  had  given  strong  proof  of 
courage  and  capacity  and  his  death  was  deeply  deplored.  Lieutenant  Wallace  was  a 
brave  officer  and  good  disciplinarian.  Lieutenant  Dickey  had  given  great  promise  of 
future  usefulness.  Lieutenant  Grace  was  one  of  the  bravest  men  I  ever  saw. 
Lieutenants  Humphreyville,  Safford  and  Shattuck  were  distinguished  for  unflinching 
(13) 


igO  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

courage  in  battle.  The  remains  of  Captain  Speed  and  Lieutenants  Wallace  and 
Safford  were  conveyed  to  Michigan,  but  the  other  officers  sleep  with  the  brave 
non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  who  fell  that  day,  in  the  cemetery  in  which  a 
grateful  nation  will  erect  a  mausoleum  to  perpetuate  the  memories  of  its  defenders. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Flanigan  lost  his  left  leg,  and  his  conduct  in  battle  was 
daring  and  gallant.  Major  E.  B.  Wight  acquitted  himself  in  the  most  creditable 
manner  and  remained  at  his  post  until  forced  by  his  wound  to  leave  the  field.  Both 
of  these  officers  were  universally  respected.  Captain  Rexford  was  wounded  early. 
His  conduct  was  gallant  and  conspicuous.  Captain  Hutchinson  received  a  severe 
contusion  in  the  groin  early  in  the  day  but  remained  with  his  company  and  behaved 
very  gallantly.  Captain  Edwards  displayed  great  coolness  and  courage,  and  deserves 
honorable  mention.  Captain  Dillon  commanded  his  company  with  skill  and  behaved 
very  handsomely.  Captain  W.  W.  Wight  exhibited  much  coolness  and  courage. 
Lieutenant  Dempsey  was  conspicuous  for  his  gallantry  in  the  charge  across 
Willoughby's  Run.  Lieutenant  Hutton  was  near  me  when  I  was  wounded,  and  it 
was  mainly  through  his  assistance  that  I  got  off  the  field.  His  conduct  was  all  that 
could  be  desired.  Captains  Hoyt  and  Gordon  and  Lieutenants  Farland,  Dodsley, 
Sprague,  Witherspoon,  Norton,  Buhl,  Earnshaw  and  Whiting,  all  acquitted  themselves 
honorably. 

The  historian  of  the  regiment  will  narrate  the  heroic  conduct  of  the  brave 
sergeants  and  corporals  who  were  killed.  Sergeant-Major  Connor  was  conspicuous 
for  his  bravery  and  was  severly  wounded.  Sergeant  Haigh  of  Company  D  was 
suffering  from  a  wound  received  at  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  but  went  into 
this  battle  and  was  severely  wounded.  He  deserves  mention  for  his  bravery. 
Captain  Edwards  says  'of  Sergeant  Bucklin  and  Corporal  Evans,  killed  on  the  field  : 
"They  were  distinguished  in  camp  for  the  purity  of  their  lives,  and  in  the  field  for 
unflinching  courage."  This  is  high  praise  and  well  bestowed.  Captain  Burchell  says 
of  Corporals  Dwyer  and  Carroll  of  B:  "They  were  efficient  and  brave  men." 
Captain  Witherspoon,  himself  a  brave  soldier,  commends  highly  the  gallantry  of 
Sergeant  Pomeroy.  Being  too  severely  wounded  to  handle  a  gun  he  tore  cartridges 
for  his  more  fortunate  comrades. 

First  Sergeant  William  Nagle  was  wounded  near  me.  His  conduct  was  brave 
to  temerity.  Captain  Farland  speaks  in  high  terms  of  Sergeant  Eberle  and  Corporals 
Rounds,  Sterling  and  Strong.  It  affords  me  pleasure  to  bear  witness  to  the  bravery 
of  the  latter.  Sergeant  Eberle  continued  to  fight  after  being  twice  wounded.  Private 
George  Klink  of  Company  F  acquitted  himself  finely. 

Surgeons  Beech,  Collar  and  Towar  were  devoted  and  untiring  in  their 
attendance  to  the  wounded.  Of  Dr.  Beech,  it  may  truly  be  said  that  no  surgeon 
rendered  more  valuable  service  at  Gettysburg.  Chaplain  Way  was  early  in  attendance 
at  hospitals  and  rendered  valuable  services.  He  remained  several  weeks  after  the 
battle  and  both  officers  and  men  speak  in  the  highest  praise  of  his  efficiency. 

EXTRACT  FROM  THE  WASHINGTON  HERALD. 

The  following  conversation  occurred  at  a  Washington  Hotel  with 
Colonel  Bachelder,  the  historian  of  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg.  Said 
Colonel  Bachelder : 

This  jostling  crowd  little  realize  that  those  two  gentlemen  in  conversation 
yonder  (pointing  to  Senator  Gordon,  of  Georgia,  and  General  Morrow,  of  the  United 
States  Army),  were  prominent  actors  on  opposite  sides  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg. 


BATTLE   OF   GETTYSBURG.  19! 

Colonel  Morrow  commanded  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  which  belonged  to  the 
famous  Iron  Brigade.  It  was  with  this  Brigade  that  General  Reynolds  was  killed, 
and  it  was  Colonel  Morrow's  regiment  which  enveloped  the  flank  of  Archer's  Brigade. 
The  sanguinary  character  of  the  engagement  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  will  be 
better  realized  when  it  is  known  that  out  of  four  hundred  and  ninety-six  men  and 
officers,  three  hundred  and  sixteen  were  placed  hors  de  combat,  losing  nine  color 
bearers  killed  and  wounded  and  all  the  color  guard,  after  which  Colonel  Morrow  took 
the  flag  and  was  struck  by  a  ball  on  the  top  of  his  head,  the  blood  from  which  covered 
his  face.  While  washing  it  away  he  found  his  retreat  cut  off. 

Late  on  the  Third  day,  Colonel  Morrow  allowed  Mrs.  Judge  Wills,  whose  guest 
he  was,  to  tie  a  green  scarf  (a  surgeon's  insignia)  about  him.  He  then  sallied  out 
and  soon  met  General  Gordon  and  staff.  Saluting  he  said,  "General,  I  am  informed 
that  our  wounded  of  the  first  day's  battle  lie  uncared  for  where  they  fell  and  I  ask 
your  assistance  in  having  them  attended  to." 

"You  astonish  me,"  answered  the  General,  and  turning  to  a  surgeon  said,  "Is 
this  so,  and  if  so  why  is  it?"  The  surgeon  assured  him  that  the  wounded  of  both 
armies  had  been  cared  for  alike,  but  that  they  had  been  unable  to  visit  that  extreme 
part  of  the  field.  Turning  to  Colonel  Morrow,  General  Gordon  said  :  "Doctor,  I  will 
give  you  a  detail  of  ambulances  this  evening  to  bring  in  your  wounded." 

At  nightfall,  Colonel  Morrow  started  with  a  train  of  twelve  ambulances  with 
Confederate  drivers,  for  that  part  of  the  field  where  the  battle  opened.  It  was  a 
weird  sight,  that  long  train  of  army  nurses,  as  by  the  fitful  light  of  a  half-clouded 
moon,  made  more  obscure  by  the  lanterns  they  bore,  this  party  threaded  its  way 
among  the  blackened  and  swollen  .corpses.  The  moans  and  cries  for  assistance  and 
water  were  heartrending.  Some  were  delirious  and  talked  of  home  and  friends  and 
wondered  that  they  neglected  them  so  long,  while  others,  in  their  wild  delirium 
cheered  on  their  comrades  as  they  fought  over  in  imagination  the  terrible  battle.  By 
midnight  they  were  tenderly  borne  away  to  receive  the  care  they  so  much  needed. 

ON   GULP'S   HILL.  —  CAPTAIN   EDWARDS*   ADDRESS. 

The  ninety  and  nine  of  the  regiment  that  rallied  around  the  flag 
on  Gulp's  Hill  the  evening  of  the  first  day's  fight,  bivouacked  there 
for  the  night,  pondering  over  the  terrible  reality  that  they  were  but  a 
fifth  part  of  the  regiment  that  so  happily  camped  but  six  miles  away 
the  night  before.  Alas,  many  a  soldier's  diary  was  cut  off  by  this 
day's  awful  events.  The  next  morning  the  survivors  hastily 
intrenched  themselves,  and  their  line  of  breastworks  on  the  brow  of 
Gulp's  Hill,  built  nearly  twenty-eight  years  ago,  still  remains.  During 
this  and  the  following  day,  the  regiment,  with  the  Iron  Brigade, 
supported  a  battery  which  was  playing  upon  the  enemy  from  near 
where  they  lay.  We  would  gladly  give  the  names  of  those  who  were 
with  the  flag  the  evening  of  the  first  day,  but  cannot  do  so  accurately. 
Captain  A.  M.  Edwards  issued  the  following  to  the  men  : 

GULP'S  HILL,  July  2,  1863.  —  All  the  field  officers  of  this  regiment  having  been 
wounded,  and  the  senior  captains  killed  or  wounded,  I  hereby  assume  command.  In 
thus  being  called  to  this  responsible  position,  as  little  desired  as  expected,  I 


192  HISTORY   OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

congratulate  you,  brave  soldiers,  upon  your  splendid  achievements  of  July  i,  a  single 
Division  holding  in  check  an  entire  army  corps,  the  flower  of  the  Southern  army,  an 
achievement  of  which  you  may  well  feel  proud.  The  enemy's  dead  in  front  of  your 
lines  attest  your  valor  and  skill.  Again  have  you  merited  a  nation's  gratitude  ; 
again  have  you  shown  yourselves  worthy  of  the  noble  State  you  represent  and  the 
glorious  cause  for  which  you  are  fighting. 

Our  joy  in  the  glory  of  our  arms  is  mingled  with  sadness  for  the  heroic  dead 
on  the  field  of  honor.  Let  the  memory  of  our  lamented  comrades  inspire  your  hearts 
with  new  life  and  zeal  to  emulate  their  heroic  virtues  and  avenge  their  untimely  fall. 
A  thousand  hearts  are  beating  for  you  to-day  in  your  own  loved  Michigan,  and 
thousands  of  eyes  are  looking  anxiously  for  the  records  of  your  gallant  deeds.  Let 
that  record  be  as  pure,  as  noble,  and  as  heroic  in  the  future  as  in  the  past,  and  a 
redeemed  and  purified  land  will  bless  your  names  and  hold  them  in  sweet 
remembrance. 

On  the  following  day,  July  3,  the  fragments  of  the  regiment  were 
formed  in  four  battalion  companies,  as  follows: 

(i.)  A  and  F  under  Captain  William  W.  Wight. 

(2.)  D,  I  and  C  under  Leiutenant  John  Witherspoon. 

(3.)  H,  E  and  K  under  Lieutenant  Edwin  E.  Norton. 

(4.)  G  and  B  under  Capt  William  Hutchinson. 

The  regiment  remained  on  Gulp's  Hill  during  the  terrible  struggles  of 
the  second  and  third  days  of  the  battle.  It  was  not  actively  engaged 
except  to  hold  back  the  enemy  from  occupying  Gulp's  Hill.  At  nine 
o'clock  Sunday  morning,  July  5,  it  moved  to  the  left  near  the  scene  of 
Pickett's  charge  where  it  halted  until  six  o'clock  the  next  morning. 


CHAPTER    X. 


AFTER  GETTYSBURG -1863 


PURSUIT  AND   ESCAPE    OF   LEE  —  VALUE   OF   INTRENCHMENTS. 

BY  THE  morning  of  July  6,  the  Union  army  was  well  under 
way  in  pursuit  of  Lee.     At  an  early  hour  the  Iron  Brigade 
was  on  the  march  amid  a  heavy  rain  storm.     A  march   of 
eleven  miles  brought  it  to  the  hills  east  of  Emmitsburg   and 
soon  after  the  Twenty-fourth  went  on  picket. 

Moving  at  daylight  on  the  7th,  it  passed  through  Emmitsburg 
where  it  found  the  Sixth  Corps  asleep,  having  just  arrived  after  an  all 
night's  march.  Moving  forward  on  the  Pike  through  Franklinsville, 
Mechanicstown  and  Catoctin  Furnace  it  halted  at  Lewiston  for 
dinner,  and  then  turning  short  to  the  right,  followed  up  a  very  rocky 
branch  of  the  Monocacy.  By  a  steep,  narrow,  stony  path,  practicable 
only  for  infantry  and  packmules,  but  dry  and  shady,  the  Iron  Brigade 
passed  over  the  Catoctin  Mountain  and  through  Hamburg  on  the 
summit.  The  men  were  frequently  obliged  to  march  in  single  file, 
so  stretching  the  line  that  a  halt  of  several  hours  was  made  to  eret 

<->  o 

closed  up.  A  better  road  was  found  on  the  western  slope.  The 
view  from  the  mountain  top  was  most  beautiful.  They  moved  five 
miles  up  the  Middletown  valley  to  Bellsville,  and  camped,  weary  and 
tired,  after  a  twenty-four  mile  tramp. 

Wednesday,  July  8.  The  march  was  resumed  at  an  early  hour 
in  a  drenching  rain,  by  the  Boonsboro  Pike,  through  Middletown.  A 
halt  was  made  at  1 1  o'clock  for  dinner,  a  warm  sun  permitting  the 
men  to  dry  their  tents  and  blankets,  it  having  rained  almost  every  day 
for  two  weeks.  Moving  on  at  three  o'clock,  the  Iron  Brigade  passed 
over  South  Mountain  by  the  National  Road,  (a  macadamized  way  which 
winds  its  course  about  abrupt  peaks  and  along  the  steep  gorges  of  the 
mountain)  over  the  same  route  it  passed  in  the  autumn  of  1862,  and 
bivouacked  on  its  western  slope  near  the  foot,  a  mile  east  of 
Boonsboro,  in  the  edge  of  some  woods  overlooking  the  Antietam 
battlefield.  During  the  afternoon,  our  Michigan  cavalry  brigade 

(193) 


194  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

engaged  the  enemy  in  this  vicinity.      They  hovered  on   Lee's  flanks 
and  inflicted  heavy  losses  on  his  train. 

Thursday  the  Qth,  was  spent  in  camp  while  the  rest  of  the  army 
continued  to  pour  over  the  mountain,  and  the  clatter  of  artillery  wheels 
rolled  along  the  road.  The  material  and  force  of  a  large  army  were 
pouring  out  in  yonder  fields.  The  game  of  war  went  on  with 
determination  on  one  side  and  desperation  on  the  other. 

Friday,  July  10.  At  an  early  hour  the  Iron  Brigade  moved  on 
through  Boonsboro  to  about  two  miles  of  Funkstown,  and  threw  up 
intrenchments  east  of  the  Pike,  half  a  mile  from  Beaver  Creek.  Sneers 
at  the  ''spade  "  may  affect  the  morale  of  a  General,  but  no  troops  can 
afford  to  discard  this  element  in  war.  The  Roman  soldiers  never 
retired  to  sleep  without  first  securing  themselves  with  an  intrenchment 
of  earth.  A  remarkable  strength  is  added  to  an  army  by  an  hour's 
work,  in  thus  improvising  shelter  against  the  foe.  A  rail  fence 
properly  disposed,  and  covered  with  a  few  shovelfuls  of  earth,  doubles 
the  defence  of  the  troops  as  well  as  gives  strength  to  their  confidence. 

Behind  their  barricade  the  men  lay  till  Sunday  noon,  July  12, 
when  they  marched  to  the  right,  halting  half  an  hour  or  so  at  Beaver 
Creek  village  ;  thence  to  the  left  to  the  Pike  at  Funkstown  where  it 
crossed  Antietam  Creek,  formed  a  line  of  battle  supporting  a  brigade 
of  Maryland  troops,  in  right  of  the  enemy's  lines,  and  again  threw  up 
earthworks. 

For  ten  days  Colonel  Morrow  had  tried  to  do  duty  with  the 
regiment,  but  his  wound  became  too  troublesome  in  the  hot  weather 
marches,  and  on  the  I4th  he  left  for  home  for  needed  restoration, 
leaving  Captain  Edwards  in  command. 

For  a  week  past  our  army  had  been  rolling  over  the  mountains, 
drawing  its  folds  closer  around  the  retreating  army.  Many  in  the 
North  still  seemed  to  think  that  Meade's  army  should  have  annihilated 
it.  It  had  won  a  great  victory  in  defeating  and  turning  back  the 
invaders,  but  the  opposing  armies  were  too  nearly  equal,  both  before 
and  after  the  Gettysburg  battle,  for  either  to  destroy  the  other.  Our 
victory  had  cost  us  too  dearly  to  be  rash.  Like  wounded  lion,  the 
invader  pushed  his  way  back  along  his  line  of  retreat,  turning  at  bay 
to  confront  his  pursuers  when  pressing  him  too  hard. 

Under  cover  of  very  strong  intrenchments  near  the  Potomac,  the 
enemy  withdrew  across  that  stream  at  midnight  of  July  13,  leaving 
2,000  men  as  a  rear  guard,  who  were  captured,  and  their  commander, 
General  Pettigrew,  killed.  It  was  this  brigade  to  which  belonged  the 


AFTER   GETTYSBURG — 1863. 


195 


famous  Twenty-sixth  North  Carolina,  which  fought  such  a  terrible  duel 
with  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  at  Gettysburg. 

At  ten  o'clock  on  the  I4th,  the  Iron  Brigade  by  a  forced  march 
pushed  forward  to  within  two  miles  of  Williamsport  and  passed 
through  the  intrenchments  which  Lee's  army  had  vacated.  A  glance 
showed  what  a  slaughter  an  assault  would  have  cost,  upon  the 
succession  of  Lee's  naturally  defensive  lines,  doubly  strengthened  by 


ROl'TE  OF   IRON"   BRIGADE  FROM    GETTYSBURG    IN   PURSUIT  OF  LEE'S   ARMY. 


196  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

skill.  The  thrice  decimated  regiments  that,  closed  around  the  enemy 
and  compelled  him  to  seek  inglorious  flight  to  the  war-stricken  fields 
of  Virginia,  may  answer  how  many  men  they  could  spare  to  drench 
the  fields  above  Antietam's  bloody  ground. 

Everything  indicated  a  sudden  departure.  The  air  was  thick  with 
putrid  odors,  compelling  the  Iron  Brigade  and  other  troops  to  move 
half-a-mile  back  from  the  road  and  camp  as  far  as  practicable  from 
the  abandoned  works.  The  puffed,  distended  body  and  legs  of  a 
defunct  mule  or  horse  dotted  the  field  here  and  there,  and  occasionally 
there  was  seen  standing  by  the  roadway  or  in  a  field,  mute  and 
motionless,  a  many  ribbed  specimen  of  kindred  kind,  unharnessed  and 
turned  out  to  die  after  his  hard  term  of  army  service. 

RETURN    TO   VIRGINIA.  —  LOYAL   VILLAGE.  —  CAMP   FIRE. 

On  the  morning  of  the  I5th,  at  six  o'clock,  the  regiment  moved 
off  on  the  Pike  to  within  sight  of  Hagerstown ;  thence  across  the 
country  to  the  Sharpsburg  Pike  ;  thence  south  and  eastward  through 
Jones'  X  Roads  and  Smoketown.  Soon  after,  it  crossed  the  Antietam 
stream  and  passed  on  through  Keedysville,  reaching  the  base  of 
Crampton's  Gap  after  dark,  and  rested  for  the  night.  The  march  this 
day,  a  part  of  the  way,  was  by  the  same  roads  the  Twenty-fourth 
traversed  upon  the  cold,  stormy  Sunday,  October  26,  1862,  when  it 
left  camp  near  Bakersville.  The  camp  this  evening  was  but  a  short 
distance  from  the  site  of  "Camp  Misery"  on  that  fearful  night.  On 
July  16,  the  march  was  resumed  at  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  over 
South  Mountain  at  Crampton's  Gap,  into  Pleasant  Valley  and  on  to 
"Camp  Hickey,"  near  Berlin,  where  it  halted  two  days  last  October 
before  crossing  into  Virginia.  The  field  return  for  the  regiment  this 
day  showed  four  officers  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  men  present 
for  duty.  After  resting  a  day,  the  long  roll  sounded  at  three  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  July  18,  and  the  regiment  again  crossed  the 
Potomac  at  Berlin,  where  it  entered  the  confederacy  just  eight  months 
and  twenty  days  previously. 

Through  a  fair  region  not  before  ravaged  by  the  war,  the  column 
passed  on  to  Milltown,  and  bivouacked  nine  miles  from  Berlin,  at 
Waterford,  a  most  beautifull}'  embowered  and  intensely  loyal  village. 
It  seemed  strange  to  find  so  patriotic  a  place  in  the  Confederate 
dominions,  and  that  evening  merry  maidens  of  the  place  with  elastic 
step,  tripped  the  fantastic  toe  with  the  army  officers. 

Sunday,  July  19.     This  morning  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  led 


AFTER  GETTYSBURG — 1863. 


I97 


the  First  Corps  on  the  march,  headed  by  a  band  made  up  of  the 
fragments  of  several  regimental  drum  corps.  Their  notes  were 
somewhat  discordant,  but  the  martial  strains  were  full  of  life.  (The 
Twenty-fourth's  band  was  still  at  Gettysburg,  soothing  the  sufferings 
of  wounded  comrades,  having  been  ordered  by  Colonel  Morrow  to 
play  for  the  men  at  the  different  hospitals  every  evening).  This 
improvised  corps  of  fifes  and  drums  awakened  chords  responsive  in  the 
hearts  of  the  Waterford  denizens.  The  streets  were  lined  with  smiles 
and  beauty.  Windows  and  balconies  were  filled,  and  matron,  maiden 
and  child  waved  handkerchiefs  and  the  starry  flag,  and  cheered  on  the 
Union  troops  with  many  a  "  hurrah  for  the  Union."  In  the  best  of 
spirits  the  column  marched  six  miles  to  Hamilton  and  camped  five 
miles  west  of  Leesburg. 

At  four  o'clock  the  next  morning,  July  20,  the  'march  was 
resumed  past  Circleville,  Philomont,  Mountsville  and  Millville;  thence 
across  Goose  Creek  by  fording  a  two  and  a  half  feet  depth  of  water ; 
thence  on  to  Middleburg  in  London  county  —  a  most  offensive 


THE   BIVOUAC   AND   CAMP   FIRE. 


198  HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

secesh  town;  not  a  door  or  shutter  open  and  scarcely  a  resident  was 
to  be  seen,  everyone  with  a  scowling  malignity  and  steeped  in 
secession.  While  riding  in  advance  of  the  column  this  day,  the  corps 
commissary,  his  orderly  and  a  colonel  were  captured  by  the  enemy's 
"  bushwhackers  "  who  infested  this  vicinity.  This  event  called  out  the 
next  day  strict  orders  against  "  straggling,"  which  had  become  rife 
among  the  boys  for  obtaining  soft  bread,  butter,  berries,  etc. 

After  a  hard  march,  the  troops  ever  welcomed  the  bivouac.  The 
regiment  and  brigade  were  filed  off  into  some  field  or  woods,  ranks 
were  closed  up  and  arms  were  stacked  in  front  of  each  company.  The 
stacking  of  arms  was  a  "  trick "  which  only  the  soldier  could  do. 
Three  soldiers  hitched  the  tops  of  their  guns  together  by  gyrative 
motions  unexplainable  in  print,  forming  a  tripod  with  the  butts  on 
the  ground,  around  which  others  placed  their  arms. 

Each  squad  of  comrades  who  usually  chummed  by  themselves 
then  selected  a  spot  for  their  "fly  tents"  which  were  described  on 
page  67.  One  pitched  or  erected  the  tent,  another  took  the  canteens 
and  hied  himself  in  search  of  some  spring  or  brook  for  water,  and 
another  got  a  fire  started  with  any  fuel  most  convenient  —  whether 
fence  rails  or  dead  tree  limbs.  Soon  scores  of  blazing  fires  and  a  city 
of  tents  had  risen  up  and  the  men  were  cooking  their  bacon  and 
coffee. 

Supper  over  and  duty  done,  a  larger  camp  fire  was  usually  built, 
as  fuel  permitted,  around  which  the  men  gathered  for  the  evening; 
some  trying  to  make  out  their  latest  letters  from  home;  some  trying 
to  write  letters  by  the  firelight,  often  in  a  stifling  smoke ;  some 
smoking  their  laurel  or  corn  cob  pipes  and  discussing  any  and  every 
subject  of  science,  politics,  philosophy  and  religion.  The  volunteer 
was  still  a  citizen,  freeman  and  man,  and  so  long  as  he  attended  to  his 
duties  he  could  carry  his  mouth  with  him  and  discuss  as  he  chose, 
which  he  did  —  perhaps  the  events  of  the  latest  fight  or  skirmish,  how 
he  fought  and  his  hairbreadth  escape  ;  the  conduct  of  the  war — in  fact 
give  his  opinion  on  any  subject  he  desired  ;  or  perhaps  they  calculated 
the  time  "  in  the  sweet  by  and  by"  when  they  could  see  home  again. 
So  long  had  they  been  rousting  about  at  soldier  life  out-doors  that 
they  could  hardly  hope  at  once  to  resume  their  old  home  babits.  The 
first  night  they  would  sleep  in  the  hog  pen ;  the  next  night  in  the 
corn  crib  or  barn;  the  next  night  in  the  woodshed,  and  in  about  a 
week  they  thought  they  might  venture  into  a  "feather  bed."  Then 
to  sit  at  a  table  and  eat!  They  had  forgotten  what  tables,  chairs  and 
such  things  were  for. 


f 


ROUTE  OF  IRON  BRIGADE  TO  THE   RAPPAHANKOCK,  JULY,  1863. 


FAMILIAR  SCENES—  MUTIN 
OUS  TROOPS — BACK  TO 
THE  RAPPAHANNOCK. 

Wednesday,  July  22.  The 
column  marched  at  3  P.  M. 
through  a  fine  hill  country, 
eleven  miles  to  White 
Plains  on  the  Manassas  Gap 
railroad,  five  miles  west  of 
Thoroughfare  Gap.  This 
was  the  "  Deserted  Village  " 
described  in  a  previous 
chapter,  by  which  the  regi 
ment  passed,  November  6th 
last. 

July  23.  Marched  at  8 
A.  M.  as  train  guard,  by 
regiments,  to  protect  the 
wagon-trains  from  cavalry  or 
other  attack.  Passed  through 
Georgetown  and  New 
Baltimore,  joining  here  the 
Centerville  Pike ;  thence  to 
Warrenton,  a  march  of 
thirteen  miles,  which  place 
was  reached  a  little  before 
dark,  encamping  on  the 
Sulphur  Springs  Road  a  mile 
southwest  of  the  town. 
Early  the  next  morning  the 
men  moved  their  camp  a 
short  distance  to  the  top  of 
a  commanding  hill  and  near 
the  sight  of  "Camp  Flanigan" 
or  "Camp  Cold,  Rain,  Snow 
and  Hunger."  Sergeant  S. 
D.  Green  with  some  comrades 
visited  the  site  of  this  former 
camp  and  there  found  scraps 
of  Detroit  newspapers,  etc., 
lying  around,  just  as  we  left 
it  November  1 1  last. 

Saturday,  July  25.  Reveille 
at  3  A.  M.  Marched  at 
daylight  to  Warrenton 


2OO  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Junction  and  went  into  camp  at  mid-afternoon.  The  Nineteenth 
Indiana  and  forty  men  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  were  sent  out 
on  picket.  Sunday  morning  brought  a  large  mail,  the  first  for  ten 
days.  Here  the  regiment  remained  a  week,  resting  up.  The  present 
location  was  called  "Camp  Speed"  in  honor  of  the  late  Captain  of 
Company  D. 

At  5  o'clock  on  Saturday  morning,  August  I,  the  Iron  Brigade 
was  ordered  to  fall  in  for  the  day's  march.  On  July  16,  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixty-seventh  Pennsylvania  (nine  months'  troops)  were 
assigned  to  the  Iron  Brigade  to  complete  their  term  of  service,  about 
twenty  days  more.  This  morning  that  regiment  refused  to 
move  when  ordered.  They  were  conscripts,  and  officers  and  all 
claimed  their  term  of  service  had  expired,  reckoning  from  the 
average  time  of  their  enlistment  instead  of  the  time  of  their  muster. 
The  rest  of  the  Iron  Brigade  were  drawn  up  in  front  of  them  with 
loaded  muskets,  and  the  commands  "Ready!  Aim!"  were  given  by 
General  Cutler,  but  before  the  word  "Fire"  was  given,  there  was  a 
wonderful  hustling  among  them  to  get  their  accoutrements  on  and 
get  into  line.  They  well  knew  that  the  Iron  Brigade  would  stand  no 
such  nonsense  and  that  until  they  were  mustered  out  by  proper 
authority,  they  must  obey  orders  like  other  troops.  The  Sixth 
Wisconsin  was  placed  behind  them  with  orders  to  shoot  any  man  who 
fell  out  of  the  ranks.  They  marched. 

The  column  moved  along  the  railroad  past  Bealton,  to  near 
Rappahannock  station  and  encamped  opposite  Norman's  Ford. 
Considerable  cavalry  fighting  occurred  during  the  day,  across  the 
river.  At  daylight  on  Sunday,  August  2,  the  Iron  Brigade  marched, 
without  breakfast,  across  the  river  on  pontoons  just  below  the  railroad 
crossing  and  occupied  a  position  commanding  the  fords  and  bridges, 
in  some  woods  half  a  mile  from  the  river  and  threw  up  earthworks. 
The  Twenty-fourth  sent  one  hundred  men  on  picket.  The  enemy's 
pickets  were  within  speaking  distance  but  no  talking  was  allowed. 
The  railroad  bridge  was  being  rebuilt  over  the  Rappahannock,  which 
is  here  a  deep,  quick,  muddy  stream,  running  between  low  banks 
grown  thick  with  willows.  A  battle  was  expected  on  the  4th  and 
readiness  was  made  for  such  an  event,  by  sending  pack  mules  over  the 
river,  etc.  It  was  only  a  brush  with  the  cavalry. 

Colonel  Morrow  and  the  band  returned  on  August  7.  The  next 
day  the  camp  was  moved  to  the  north  side  of  the  stream,  and  the 
regiment,  with  the  Second  and  Sixth  Wisconsin  were  sent  over  the 
river  on  outpost  duty  again  until  August  12.  In  fact  the  men  of  the 


AFTER  GETTYSBURG — 1863.  2OI 

regiment  and  Iron  Brigade  were  almost  constantly  on  picket  south  of 
the  river,  while  the  camp  was  just  below  what  was  once 
Rappahannock  Station,  all  that  remained  of  it  now  being  a  few 
chimneys.  The  army  settled  down  for  a  few  weeks  of  quiet  by  -the 
Rappahannock,  over  which  it  kept  watch  and  guard.  The  drinking 
water  was  poor  until  the  men  dug  a  well  twenty-five  feet  deep  which 
furnished  good  cool  water.  The  camp  was  tastefully  arranged  with 
evergreen  bowers  and  named  after  Captain  Merrit  who  had  recently 
died.  Many  went  bathing  daily  in  the  murky  river.  Its  waters  were 
continually  stirred  and  kept  colored  by  the  soluble  soil  of  its  bed  and 
banks.  Many  troops  were  about  this  time  taken  north  to  enforce  the 
draft,  while  every  train  brought  conscripts  and  substitutes,  who 
seemed  to  be  a  scurvy  lot  of  fellows.  They  had  received  large 
amounts  in  bounties  and  their  main  intentions  were  to  desert  at  the 
first  opportunity.  Their  talk  was  more  suited  to  service  in  the 
enemy's  camp,  and  they  were  closely  watched. 

This  day,  August  29,  recalled  an  event  twelve  months  ago,  which 
the  regiment  and  its  friends  will  never  forget  —  this  being  the 
anniversary  of  our  departure  from  Detroit.  None  could  realize  then 
what  havoc  owe  year  would  make  in  its  ranks.  Then,  ten  full 
companies,  1,026  men,  supported  the  flag  it  received.  To-day,  but 
207  men  and  eight  officers  "dress  upon  the  colors,"  and  of  this 
number,  thirty  were  on  extra  duty,  which  left  but  170  available  men 
in  camp.  Truly  the  regiment  had  had  glory  and  grief,  joy  and  sorrow 
enough  for  one  year.  Though  the  summer's  glorious  triumphs  at 
Gettysburg  and  Vicksburg  gave  buoyant  hopes  of  an  early  peace, 
efforts  were  not  to  be  relaxed  until  the  military  power  of  the  rebellion 
was  broken. 

IRON   BRIGADE   FLAG   PRESENTATION. 

The  heroic  record  of  the  Iron  Brigade  on  many  a  bloody  field 
since  Bull  Run;  at  dark  and  bloody  Gainesville;  its  gallantry  in 
carrying  the  South  Mountain  Pass  and  opening  the  battle  of  Antietam  ; 
its  valorous  deeds  at  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellors- 
ville  and  minor  fields;  and  lastly,  its  generous  sacrifice  at  Gettysburg, 
by  which  with  its  fraternal  Second,  it  bought  at  so  dear  a  price,  the 
defensive  heights  that  saved  the  army  and  nation,  all  contributed  to 
the  enrichment  of  the  war  history  of  the  States  from  which  came  its 
men  —  Indiana,  Wisconsin  and  Michigan.  In  recognition  of  the 
splendor  of  its  noble  deeds,  citizens  of  these  three  States  residing  in 


2O2 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


Washington,  resolved  to  present  to  it  a  testimonial,  the  only  honor  of 
the  kind  in  the  history  of  any  war  in  this  country  —  a  distinctive  flag 
of  its  own,  to  this  the  First  Brigade  of  the  First  Division,  of  the  First 
army  Corps  of  the  Army  of  the  American  Republic.  Thus 
numerically  first,  it  was  the  first  recipient  of  so  proud  a  distinction. 

The  anniversary  of  the  glorious  Antietam  victory,  September  17, 
was  deemed  a  fitting  occasion  for  its  presentation.  The  event  was  to 
be  a  notable  one  and  suitable  preparations  were  made.  A  large 
evergreen  arch  was  erected  with  the  words  "Iron  Brigade"  and 
"Welcome  Guests"  underneath.  To  the  rear  of  the  arch  ran  an 
embowered  hall,  100  feet,  for  the  banquet,  and  the  leaves  and 
underbrush  were  cleared  away  for  the  Iron  Brigade  assemblage. 
Notable  guests  were  invited  and  all  made  ready,  when  inexorable 
orders  came  to  move,  causing  an  abandonment  of  all  the  preparations 
for  the  welcomed  flag  event. 

At  daylight  of  September  16,  the  Iron  Brigade  broke  camp, 
crossed  the  Rappahannock,  and  marching  by  Brandy  Station  and 
Stevensburg  halted  at  Pony  Mountain  near  Culpepper.  The  day  was 

hot  and  dusty,  and  the  route 
over  a  beautiful  rolling  country 
without  any  cultivation  of 
crops.  For  miles  around  the 
country  was  dotted  with  white 
tents  containing  the  most  of 
the  army  of  the  Potomac.  The 
sound  of  the  cannon  was  heard 
and  all  indicated  another  battle. 
The  flag  had  been  sent  on  and 
BRANDY  STATION,  vA.  its  presentation  occurred  on  the 

appointed  day,  though  under  adverse  circumstances,  at  4  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon.  Just  before  the  hour,  the  rain  came  down  in  torrents, 
but  soon  ceased  till  after  the  ceremonies.  The  regiments  were 
formed  in  a  hollow  square,  in  a  grove  near  by.  The  band  struck  up 
"Hail  to  the  Chief"  and  the  flag  was  brought  in,  when  Mr.  Selleck, 
of  Washington,  addressed  Colonel  Robinson,  of  the  Seventh 
Wisconsin,  then  commanding  the  Iron  Brigade,  as  follows: 

This  flag  is  presented  to  the  Iron  Brigade  in  behalf  of  the  donors,  as  a  mark  of 
their  admiration  for  the  deeds  of  those  who  stand  here  before  me,  and  the  gallant 
dead  who  helped  to  win  the  fame  of  the  Brigade.  Take  the  flag,  bear  it  at  the  head 
of  your  column  till  the  final  battle  be  won  ;  then  carry  it  to  your  homes  in  the  west, 
the  pride  of  your  friends  and  the  noble  States  you  represent. 


AFTER   GETTYSBURG — 1863.  203 

Upon  receiving  the  flag  Colonel  Robinson  said  : 

Accept  our  thanks  for  this  appreciation  of  the  Iron  Brigade,  a  name  the  rebels 
had  learned  to  award  it  on  many  an  occasion.  No  stain  of  dishonor  upon  its  folds 
shall  ever  shame  the  cheeks  of  its  donors'  This  gift  shall  be  brought  back.  It  may  be 
scarred  and  battle  stained,  but  floating  still  proudlier  in  victory.  The  few  who  witness 
this  scene  from  the  thinned  ranks  are  survivors  of  a  much  larger  number  who  came 
at  their  country's  call  to  restore  its  despised  authority.  Their  comrades  lie  in  their  last 
sleep,  on  battle  fields  from  which  their  deeds  have  told  the  story,  which  their  children 
and  grandchildren  will  ever  be  proud  to  hear. 

After  recounting  the  battles  in  which  the  four  oldest  regiments 
had  been  engaged  up  to  Antietam,  he  spoke  of  Michigan's  merit  to  a 
share  in  the  honors  of  the  occasion,  as  follows : 

Soon  after  the  battle  of  Antietam,  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  a  new  regiment, 
joined  us  with  its  full  ranks  and  new  uniforms.  We  thought  it  put  on  too  many  airs, 
and  longed  to  take  it  into  battle  with  us.  At  Fredericksburg,  it  went  with  us  into  its 
first  fight.  Nobly  did  it  stand  the  test,  and  from  that  day  we  took  it  into  full 
fellowship. 

The  flag  was  borne  away  at  the  head  of  the  Iron  Brigade  and  the 
officers  and  guests  repaired  to  the  banquet.  Speaking  followed, 
begun  by  Colonel  Henry  A.  Morrow  and  followed  by  Colonel  E.  S. 
Bragg,  of  the  Sixth  Wisconsin,  Generals  Robertson,  Newton  and 
others.  General  Rice  said  : 

To  the  non-cornmissioned  officers  and  privates  we  owe  everything.  To  the 
First  Corps  alone  at  Gettysburg,  do  we  owe  the  result  of  that  battle;  to  the  rank  and 
file  of  that  corps  who  stood  so  many  hours,  beating  back  the  tremendous  odds  thrown 
against  them,  holding  the  enemy  in  check  until  the  troops  came  up  and  formed  in 
position  on  the  field  ;  to  that  corps  and  its  indomitable  pluck,  the  nation  owes  its 
most  grateful  thanks. 

The  memory  of  General  Reynolds  was  drank  in  silence. 

The  flag  was  of  the  finest  blue  banner  silk,  upon  which,  by  the 
needle  alone,  was  produced  the  inscription  with  the  national  emblems, 
in  a  degree  of  perfection  unsurpassed.  Its  colors,  lights,  shades,  and 
contrasts  were  very  brilliant  and  natural,  and  all  in  embroidery.  In 
the  center  is  the  American  Eagle  which  fairly  seems  to  fly,  so  true  to 
nature  is  the  skillful  embroiderer's  work.  His  every  shade  is 
shown;  the  dark  and  brown  of  the  beak  and  wings  passing 
imperceptibly  into  the  higher  shades  below,  with  glistening  plumage, 
and  eye  as  fierce  as  life.  In  bold  Gothic  are  the  names  of  the  five 
regiments  of  the  Brigade  and  the  chief  battles  in  which  it  had 
participated  thus  far;  the  whole  unfurled  from  a  lance  of  finest  wood, 


204  HISTORY   OF   THE  TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

fastened  by  silver  rod  and  socket,    from    which    hangs  a  richness  of 
scarlet  and  tassels. 

It  is  a  fit  and    elegant    tribute    to    the    heroism    of   one    of   the    most    glorious 
organizations  in  the  entire  army.  —  New  York  Times. 

Reader  of  battle  histories  written  in  blood  and  spoken  with 
tongues  of  fire  from  thundering  cannon,  may  not  that  little  brigade 
be  proud  of  its  honors,  since  their  just  meed  of  praise  in  nowise 
lessens  the  heroic  deeds  of  others? 


PROMOTIONS  —  BREAKING   CAMP  —  PROGRESS   OF   THE   WAR. 

On  September  19,  the  camp  was  moved  a  short  distance  to  about 
three  miles  from  Culpepper  and  fitted  up  as  if  for  a  long  stay.  It  was 
named  "Camp  Peck"  in  honor  of  the  noble  color  bearer  who  fell  at 
Gettysburg.  During  the  past  few  weeks  several  of  the  officers  and 
some  of  the  men  who  had  become  separated  from  the  regiment  at 
Gettysburg  because  of  wounds,  etc.,  returned,  including  Chaplain  Wm. 
C.  Way,  Major  E.  B.  Wight,  Dr.  Beech,  and  several  squads  of 
convalescents,  after  a  six  months  or  so  of  hospital  absence. 

About  this  time  numerous  promotions  were  made  among  officers, 
non-commissioned  officers,  and  men  from  the  ranks,  to  fill  vacancies 
and  gaps  made  by  the  Gettysburg  fight.  Corporal  Seril  Chilson 
became  Adjutant;  First  Lieutenants  Farland,  Hutton  and  Norton 
became  Captains;  Second  Lieutenants  Dodsley  and  Witherspoon 
became  First  Lieutenants ;  and  several  Sergeants  were  promoted  to 
Second  Lieutenants,  but  as  the  regiment  had  not  its  minimum 
number,  they  were  not  permitted  to  muster. 

Here  the  regiment  lay  till  the  afternoon  of  September  24,  when 
"Strike  tents"  came  from  Colonel  Morrow's  ringing  voice,  and  soon  all 
was  commotion.  It  is  wonderful  how  quickly  a  neat  camp  takes  the 
appearance  of  a  burnt  district.  When  an  order  comes  to  move,  it  is 
a  practice  of  soldiers  to  burn  all  they  cannot  take  with  them,  that  the 
enemy  may  not  have  any  benefit  of  what  must  be  left.  So  in  a  few 
minutes  after  moving  orders  come,  a  score  of  fires  are  seen  in  each 
camp  consuming  boxes,  barrels,  cabins,  etc. 

Soon  the  regiment  was  on  the  road  towards  Raccoon  Ford  on  the 
Rapidan,  and  halted  under  the  shade  of  some  woods  skirting  the 
river  opposite  Morton's  Ford.  A  part  of  the  Iron  Brigade  picketed 
the  river  and  the  rest  became  a  permanent  reserve  to  the  picket  guard. 
The  enemy's  pickets  were  seen  opposite. 


AFTER   GETTYSBURG — 1863.  2O5 

On  September  29,  the  camp  was  moved  back  a  little  and  named 
"Camp  O'Donnell "  after  the  valiant  captain  who  fell  at  Gettysburg. 
On  October  5,  the  regiment  was  called  out  to  consider  a  proposition 
to  "veteranize"  by  re-enlisting  for  three  years,  and  they  were  almost 
to  a  man  in  favor  of  it,  on  the  condition  of  a  reasonable  furlough  to 
visit  friends  at  home.  The  reader  may  deem  it  strange  that  after 
men  have  undergone  so  many  hardships  and  survived  so  many  battles, 
when  so  many  of  their  comrades  have  gone  down  to  death  or  become 
maimed  for  life,  that  they  would  take  upon  themselves  a  renewal  of 
such  experiences.  But  the  rebellion  must  be  subdued,  and  all  honor 
to  the  men  who  thus,  a  second  time,  offer  their  lives  to  save  their 
country. 

We  have  seen  how  Lee,  after  Gettysburg,  withdrew  his  forces 
along  the  west  side  of  the  Blue  Ridge  to  the  south  side  of  the 
Rappahannock ;  and  how  Meade,  keeping  his  army  on  the  east  side 
of  the  mountains,  covered  Washington  and  arranged  his  troops  on  the 
north  side  of  that  stream.  Both  armies  had  been  weakened  by  the 
withdrawal  of  troops  for  other  purposes.  Longstreet's  Corps  was  sent 
to  help  the  Confederacy  in  Tennessee,  and  their  Western  army 
thus  re-enforced,  assaulted  the  Union  army  at  Chickamauga. 
Longstreet's  withdrawal  induced  Meade  to  cross  the  Rappahannock 
and  drive  the  enemy  across  the  Rapidan.  This  was  the  movement 
that  interrupted  the  Iron  Brigade  flag  presentation.  Soon  after,  to 
counteract  Longstreet  in  Tennessee,  it  was  found  necessary  to  send 
there  the  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Union  Corps  under  General  Hooker. 
This  so  weakened  Meade's  forces  that  Lee  resolved  upon  a  flank 
movement,  by  which  he  would  interpose  between  Meade's  army  and 
Washington. 

CAMPAIGN    OF    MANEUVERS. 

And  thus  was  inaugurated,  during  October,  1863,  a  campaign  of 
maneuvers  by  which  a  good  deal  of  rapid  marching  and  some 
skirmishing  were  indulged  in,  but  no  great  battle  was  fought.  Both 
armies  hastened  for  the  heights  around  Centerville,  but  Meade  arrived 
there  first.  Thus  foiled,  Lee  retrograded  south  again,  till  the  armies 
were  about  where  they  were  before  this  movement  began. 

Lee  commenced  this  flank  movement  on  Friday,  October  9th. 
The  next  morning,  the  Iron  Brigade  was  sent  to  within  half  a  mile  of 
the  Rapidan  which  it  made  a  feint  of  crossing,  but  lay  in  some  woods 
all  day.  At  night  it  moved  back  near  Stevensburg  Heights  and 

(14) 


2O6 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


AFTER   GETTYSBURG — 1863.  2O/ 

bivouacked  till  Sunday  noon,  the  enemy  making  their  appearance  as 
it  withdrew. 

Colonel  Morrow  being  compelled  to  go  to  Washington  on  sick 
leave,  Captain  Edwards  took  command  of  the  Twenty-fourth. 

That  afternoon  the  first  corps,  with  the  Iron  Brigade  as  rear 
guard,  marched  north  to  the  Rappahannock  which  it  crossed  at 
Kelly's  Ford  and  bivouacked  till  one  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
1 3th,  when  it  marched  fifteen  miles  to  Warrenton  Junction  by  9 
o'clock  and  took  breakfast.  Then  it  moved  on  to  Bristoe  Station  and 
bivouacked  for  the  night,  reaching  Centerville  Heights  at  2  o'clock  on 
Wednesday  afternoon,  the  I4th,  in  a  very  tired  condition.  This  race 
with  Lee  was  a  severe  one,  but  Meade's  army  got  concentrated  there 
first  and  held  the  key  to  the  situation. 

The  route  passed  over  from  the  Rapidan  was  not  a  new  one. 
Oft  in  the  past  two  years  had  it  been  taken  by  hostile  feet.  Many 
desolate  homesteads  marked  the  way,  through  fertile  fields 'rich  in 
nothing  but  luxurious  weeds.  Black  ruins  and  naked  chimneys 
pointed  out  the  desolating  track;  decaying  head-boards  and  nameless 
heaps  of  fresh-piled  earth  told  their  tale  along  the  way. 

On  Saturday,  the  i/th,  nine  days'  rations  were  issued.  Marching 
orders  came  at  daylight  on  Monday,  October  19,  and  while  packing  up 
a  drenching  rainstorm  wet  everything.  Crossing  the  Bull  Run 
battlefield,  the  Iron  Brigade  marched  by  way  of  Gainesville  to 
Haymarket  on  Manassas  Gap  Railroad  where  it  was  deployed  for  the 
night  on  the  Greenwich  road  as  support  to  Kilpatrick's  cavalry.  That 
evening,  one  officer  and  thirty-four  men  of  the  Seventh  Wisconsin 
were  captured  while  on  picket. 

At  4  p.  m.  of  the  2Oth,  it  marched  through  Thoroughfare  Gap  to 
Georgetown,  a  distance  of  only  four  miles,  but  taking  until  nearly 
midnight,  and  bivouacking  on  the  mountain  side.  Morning  revealed 
a  beautiful  panorama  of  valley,  a  vast  amphitheater  with  troops  on 
every  hill  side.  This  beautiful  site  of  the  regiment  was  called 
"Camp  Wallace"  after  the  brave  Lieutenant  whose  body  then  lay  in 
the  woods  near  Gettysburg. 

THE   RETURN  —  GUARDING   RAILROAD,    ETC. 

The  regiment  remained  in  Thoroughfare  Gap  until  7  o'clock 
Saturday  morning,  October  24,  when  it  began  an  extraordinary  march 
in  rain  and  mud.  The  Iron  Brigade  marched  all  day,  the  men  wading 
several  creeks  waist  deep.  From  Georgetown  it  marched  to 


208 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


Haymarket  without  a  halt ;  thence  to  Gainesville,  and  on  through 
Bristoe  to  Brentville,  fording  Broad  Run  and  Kettle  Run,  and 
arriving  at  Brentville,  the  county  seat  of  Prince  William  county,  about 
4  p.  m.  But  ere  tents  were  pitched,  orders  came  to  get  coffee  as  soon 
as  possible,  and  march  back  to  Bristoe,  amid  a  drizzling  rain  and  over 
muddy  and  slippery  roads.  Arrived  in  bivouac,  the  men  dropped 
down  among  the  pines  where  they  happened  to  be,  for  sleep.  A  cold 
Sabbath  followed.  The  present  site  was  named  "Camp  Bucklin," 
after  Sergeant  Bucklin  of  F  who  fell  at  Gettysburg.  Several  of  the 
Gettysburg  prisoners  returned  this  day,  October  25,  and  told  of  a 
famished  march  to  Richmond  after  their  capture.  While  in  this 
camp  Colonel  (now  Brigadier-General)  Lucius  Fairchild  visited  the 
Iron  Brigade  with  his  empty  sleeve,  made  so  at  Gettysburg.  He  had 
been  nominated  for  Secretary  of  State  in  Wisconsin.  Michigan  did 
not  so  honor  her  crippled  soldiers. 

On  the  afternoon  of  October  30,  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  and 
Sixth    Wisconsin  were  ordered  to  do  guard  duty  on  the  Orange  & 


THOROUGHFARE  GAP,   VIRGINIA. 


AFTER  GETTYSBURG — 1863.  2OQ 

Alexandria  railroad,  the  Twenty-fourth's  duty  covering  four  miles  of 
track  from  Slaty  Run  to  Catlett's  Station.  This  locality  was  familiar 
ground  to  the  Iron  Brigade.  Months  before  they  saw  along  this 
route  pleasant  homes  which  our  soldiers  under  McDowell,  had  to 
guard.  But  now  only  charred  ruins  and  chimney  heaps  mark  the 
spots  —  no  fences,  outbuildings  or  timber  are  left. 

On  November  5,  Adjutant  E.  P.  Brooks,  of  the  Sixth  Wisconsin, 
was  very  cleverly  captured  by  the  enemy.  A  few  days  before  a 
handsome  young  lady  came  into  camp  and  solicited  a  guard  home, 
some  two  miles  away.  This  day  she  returned  with  some  butter  to 
repay  the  politeness  of  the  Adjutant  who  again  agreed  to  see  her 
safely  home.  Off  they  rode  on  horseback,  but  not  more  than  a  mile 
from  camp  Mosby  and  his  men  stepped  out  of  the  bushes  and 
captured  the  badly  sold  victim  of  a  female  spy. 

While  doing  this  railroad  duty  intelligence  came  that  the  dead  of 
the  Iron  Brigade  who  fell  at  Gainesville  on  the  2Qth  of  August,  1862, 
had  not  been  properly  buried.  A  detail  under  Captain  Hollon 
Richardson  of  the  Seventh  Wisconsin  went  over  to  the  bloody  field 

and  properly  buried  their  fallen  comrades. 

m 

MARCH   TO    BRANDY    STATION — RESIGNATIONS. 

On  the  morning  of  November  7,  at  the  bugle  call,  the  regiment 
broke  camp  on  the  railroad,  the  guards  having  been  called  in,  and 
passing  Catlett's  station  and  Warrenton  Junction,  bivouacked  near 
Morrisville  about  five  miles  from  the  Rappahannock  at  5  P.  M.  During 
the  afternoon  General  Sedgwick  had  a  fight  at  Rappahannock  Station, 
taking  1,200  prisoners  and  a  battery. 

On  Sunday  morning,  November  8,  the  Iron  Brigade  marched  for 
Kelly's  Ford,  crossed  the  river  at  11  o'clock  and  pushed  on  to  Brandy 
Station  where  it  bivouacked  at  dark  near  the  railroad.  On  Monday 
afternoon,  the  9th,  the  bugle  announced  some  movement  in  progress. 
Moving  out  of  camp  the  regiments  headed  toward  the  river  on  the 
railroad  track  and  commenced  a  friendly  strife  with  the  Second 
Division  for  the  first  passage  of  the  stream,  the  last  over  to  have  the 
longest  night  march.  The  Twenty-fourth  led  the  Iron  Brigade  and 
Division  and  such  marching  was  never  witnessed  before,  the 
Twenty-fourth  reaching  the  river  ere  the  other  troops  were  in  sight. 
Recrossing  the  Rappahannock,  its  pace  did  not  slacken  till  it  reached 
Beverly  Ford  at  7  P.  M.,  when  it  bivouacked  in  some  woods  by  the 
road  for  this  night. 


210  HISTORY  OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

The  next  day  it  arranged  its  tents  in  an  oak  forest  in  camp  order 
and  named  the  place  "Camp  Dickey"  in  honor  of  Lieutenant  Dickey, 
killed  at  Gettysburg.  Here  the  regiment  remained  until  November 
26,  engaged  in  picket  and  fatigue  duty  rebuilding  the  destroyed 
railroad.  While  here,  Burt  Sons  of  the  Band  rigged  up  a  barber  shop, 
his  chair  being  a  hickory  stump  and  the  back  formed  by  a  leaning 
sapling  and  piece  of  hardtack-box,  against  which  his  customers  leaned 
their  heads. 

On  November  16,  Quartermaster  Digby  V.  Bell  and  Lieutenant 
Fred.  Augustus  Buhl  having  resigned,  started  for  home,  the  latter  to 
join  the  First  Michigan  Cavalry.  Soon  after,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Flanigan,  Captains  Charles  A.  Hoyt  and  Wm.  H.  Rexford  were  dis 
charged,  and  Major  Edwin  B.  Wight  was  compelled  to  resign,  because 
of  their  Gettysburg  wounds. 

Major  E.  B.  Wight  had  lost  the  sight  of  an  eye  and  after 
consultation  with  eminent  oculists  in  New  York  and  Washington,  felt 
compelled  to  offer  his  resignation  in  deference  to  their  opinions. 
Awaiting  its  acceptance,  he  returned  to  camp  and  soon  found  he  had 
overrated  his  strength  and  could  not  take  up  active  work.  The 
Regimental,  Brigade,  Division  and  Corps  Surgeons  pronounced  him 
unfit  for  any  immediate  service  and  unqualifiedly  recommended  his 
discharge.  He  had  courageously  endeavored  to  do  duty  but  could  not. 
The  whole  regiment  regretted  the  necessity  of  his  resignation,  and 
there  was  a  sad  leave  taking  when  the  time  came  to  say  good-bye. 
He  had  been  very  active  in  the  organization  of  the  regiment  and 
recruited  Company  A.  Had  his  wound  permitted  him  to  remain  in 
the  field  he  would  certainly  have  been  promoted  to  higher  honors. 

MINE   RUN    CAMPAIGN. 

After  Lee's  retreat  from  Centerville,  he  crossed  the  Rapidan  and 
arranged  his  troops  along  the  west  side  of  Mine  Run,  a  stream 
running  at  right  angles  to  the  Rapidan  and  emptying  into  it  on  the 
south  at  Morton's  Ford.  Of  itself  the  stream  was  insignificant,  but 
miry  marshes  extend  along  its  sides,  and  Lee's  position  was  on  an 
elevated  bank  a  little  distance  back,  and  intrenched  so  as  to  be 
virtually  impregnable.  It  was  a  veritable  slaughter  pen  in  front,  and 
he  baited  the  Federal  army  by  abandoning  the  fords  of  the  Rapidan. 
Not  understanding  this  condition  of  things,  General  Meade  resolved 
to  attack  him,  and  began  to  move  forward  his  army  with  rations  for 
ten  days,  on  Thursday  morning,  November  26,  1863. 


AFTER   GETTYSBURG — 1863. 


211 


t  ^^  3 

/?.  BtVthuca*.    $U    (e-+>;   / 


212 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN. 


The  bugle  again  sounded  the  fall  in,  and  the  Twenty-fourth  with 
the  Iron  Brigade,  to  which  had  been  temporarily  attached  a  battalion 
of  New  York  sharpshooters,  crossed  the  river  at  Rappahannock 
Station  at  daylight,  passed  down  near  Kelly's  Ford  on  the 
Rappahannock ;  thence  south  through  Richardsville  to  near  Ely's 


BATTLE-FIELD  OF  MINK  RUN,   VA. 

Ford  on  the  Rapidan,  and  bivouacked.  At  half  past  three  the  next 
morning,  November  27,  it  crossed  the  Rapidan  at  Melville  Mines  Ford 
and  continued  south  by  Parker's  Store  to  the  intersection  of  the 
Sppttsylvania  Road  with  the  Orange  Plank  Road.  The  ammunition 
train  was  attacked  by  Hampton's  Legion  who  were  repulsed  by  the 
Sixth  Wisconsin.  Pursuing  the  march  through  the  Wilderness,  the 


AFTER   GETTYSBURG — 1863.  213 

Iron  Brigade  bivouacked  for  the  night  near  Robinson's  Farm  on  the 
old  turnpike. 

At  four  o'clock  the  next  morning,  November  28,  they  advanced 
to  Locust  Grove  and  halted.  At  eight  o'clock  the  Twenty-fourth 
Michigan  and  the  New  York  Sharpshooters  advanced  as  skirmishers, 
deploying  six  companies  and  advancing  two  miles,  taking  six 
prisoners.  The  next  morning,  November  29,  the  entire  Iron  Brigade 
moved  forward  to  the  crest  overlooking  Mine  Run  and  the  enemy's 
works  opposite. 

All  this  day,  Sunday,  was  spent  in  preparing  for  a  great  battle  to 
begin  the  next  morning,  November  30.  The  weather  was  severe  and 
cold  and  some  of  the  pickets  had  frozen  to  death  on  their  posts. 
Generals  Sedgwick  and  Warren  were  to  attack,  at  the  same  time,  the 
flanks  of  the  enemy.  The  former  actually  opened  his  artillery ;  but 
General  Warren,  to  whom  fame  had  few  allurements,  carefully  noting 
with  the  eye  of  a  skillful  engineer,  the  great  hazard  of  assaulting  Lee's 
works,  took  the  responsibility  to  abandon  his  part  of  the  programme, 
and  so  reported  to  Meade,  who  approved  his  judgment  and  decision. 
The  water  in  the  Run  was  breast  deep  and  covered  with  a  coating  of 
thin  ice.  On  the  opposite  side  was  a  strong  abatis  of  tree  tops  felled 
into  the  Run,  and  behind  all  a  strong  array  of  fortified  batteries,  and 
any  attempt  to  move  across  the  Run  for  a  charge  would  have  been 
another  insane  Fredericksburg  slaughter.  Would  that  the  army  had 
had  more  such  Generals  as  John  F.  Reynolds  and  G.  K.  Warren. 

The  attack  upon  the  enemy's  works  having  been  abandoned,  the 
army  withdrew  on  the  night  of  December  I.  One  man,  Henry 
Hoisington  of  K,  had  been  severely  wounded  in  the  Twenty-fourth  in 
this  movement.  The  Twenty-fourth  arrived  at  Germanna  Ford  at  1 1 
P.  M.  and  bivouacked  on  the  south  side.  At  8  o'clock  the  next 
morning,  December  2,  it  crossed  the  Rapidan  and  moving  up  as  far  as 
Mitchell's  Ford,  bivouacked  till  i  o'clock  P.  M.  of  the  3d,  when  it 
marched  towards  Kelly's  Ford  on  the  Rappahannock,  halting  half  a 
mile  north  of  Mountain  Run.  The  following  day  the  camp  was 
moved  to  near  Kelly's  Ford. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


WINTER  QUARTERS  NEAR  CULPEPPER. 


LOG   HUTS  —  LETTER   OF   CHAPLAIN   WAY. 

ON  SATURDAY    morning,  December  5,  the  sound  of  axes 
rang  through   the   forest  of  oak,   hickory   and   pine,   which 
continued  until  the  men  of  the  First  Corps  had   provided 
themselves   with    very    comfortable   winter   huts.      Colonel 
Morrow  returned  on  the  6th  and  the  regiment  abode  in  their  snug  log 
cabins   doing   outpost    duty    until    December   24,    naming   the  place 
"Camp   Beech"   in   honor  of  our   efficient    surgeon.     The  following 
letter  of  Chaplain  Wm.  C.  Way  will  explain  the  camp  life  and   trials 
of  the  men  at  this  period : 

NEAR  CULPEPER  C.  H.,  VA.,  December  31,  1863.  —  "Out  in  the  cold!"  The 
first  corps  were  turned  out  of  their  comfortable  quarters  near  Kelly's  Ford  on  a  keen, 
cutting,  cold  day.  At  daylight  on  the  morning  before  Christmas,  we  wound  our  way 
out  of  camp  on  the  road  hither  in  the  face  of  a  fierce,  cold  wind.  Through  the  open 
fields  the  ground  was  frozen  hard.  The  swamp  roads  were  of  the  log  or  corduroy 
construction,  but  the  wagons  plunged  into  an  occasional  slough  with  a  broken  axle. 
Late  in  the  afternoon  we  reached  our  present  position,  fairly  in  the  front,  on  the 
Gordonsville  Pike,  in  a  location  poorly  supplied  with  wood,  and  it  requires  much 
activity  and  rubbing  to  enjoy  a  night's  sleep,  from  the  cold. 

The  men  out  on  picket,  through  the  fields  and  upon  the  bleak  ridges,  need  the 
thickest  clothing  to  keep  the  life  current  flowing.  The  cold  stars  overhead,  the 
ice-bound  earth — tramp,  tramp  through  the  long  hours  of  the  longest  nights  of 
winter,  walks  the  picket  on  his  beat  till  the  relief  comes,  and  the  sentry  returns. 
If  there  happens  to  be  a  smoldering  fire  at  the  reserve,  he  rakes  out  the  embers  and 
holds  his  benumbed  hands  a  moment  over  the  heat  and  then  turns  in.  Otherwise  he 
slaps  his  hands  vigorously  to  warm  up  his  finger  tips,  and  rolls  himself  snugly  up  in 
his  blanket,  with  knapsack  under  his  head  and  is  soon  dreaming  of  home  and  its 
cheery  fireside. 

I  see  sights  every  day  of  woe  and  want  about  the  fields  and  squalid  dwellings. 
Stillness  as  of  the  grave  and  a  blight  as  of  a  curse  brood  in  the  streets  of  yonder  town 
that  once  sat  beautifully  on  the  undulating  hills  whose  feet  the  stream  below  laves. 
The  meadows  that  were  shaven  by  the  scythe,  now  grow  rank  with  weeds,  and  the 
fields  once  green,  now  lie  hard.  Yon  spires  beneath  whose  shadow  worshipers  once 
gathered,  now  rise  above  the  stenchy  atmosphere  of  stables  into  which  the  edifices 
have  been  turned. 

(214) 


WINTER   QUARTERS   NEAR   CULPEPPER.  215 

Christmas  found  us  in  our  shelter  tents  and  the  camp  of  December  25  and  26 
was  named  "Camp  Cheerless."  The  men  set  about  felling  trees  for  cabins  and  in  a 
few  days  their  second  edition  of  cabins  were  built  far  superior  to  the  first." 


PROGRESS   OF   THE   WAR.  —  CAMP   ROUTINE. 

The  year  1863  closed  with  a  brighter  outlook  for  the  union  arms 
than  the  year  before.  By  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg  on  July  4,  and 
of  Port  Hudson,  July  9,  the  Confederacy  sustained  a  combined  loss  of 
38,500  soldiers  to  7,500  by  the  Union  armies,  then  under  General 
Grant.  These  victories  occurring  about  the  time  of  the  Gettysburg 
success  left  the  Confederacy  cut  into  by  the  Mississippi  which  was 
now  open  from  the  North  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  It  also  was  another 
nail  well  driven  into  the  Confederate  coffin. 


GENERAL   RCFUS   KING,    FIRST  COMMANDER  OF  IRON  BRIGADE. 

At  Chickamauga,  Georgia,  on  the  igth  and  2Oth  of  September 
there  was  a  terrible  battle.  The  Confederate  army  there  had  been 
reinforced  by  Longstreet  from  the  East  with  his  corps  and  they  were 
determined  to  destroy  the  Western  Union  army.  At  this  battle  the 
Confederates  lost  17,864  men  and  the  Federals  but  15,851;  yet  the 
latter  were  driven  from  the  field  and  it  became  a  very  dearly  bought 
Confederate  victory,  which  was  more  than  counterbalanced  by  the 
brilliant  Union  victories  on  November  23,  24  and  25,  at  Chattanooga, 


2l6  HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Lookout  Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge,  when  Hooker's  corps 
became  famous  for  their  "battle  above  the  clouds"  on  this  height, 
which  electrified  the  world.  And  thus  the  year  closed  in  a  halo  of 
glory  for  the  Union. 

There  was  a  corresponding  depression  in  the  South,  as  the 
following  from  the  Richmond  Examiner  of  December  31,  indicated: 

To-day  closes  the  gloomiest  year  of  our  struggle.  No  sanguine  hope  of 
intervention  buoys  up  the  spirits  of  the  Confederate  public  as  at  the  end  of  1861.  No 
brilliant  victory,  like  that  at  Fredericksburg,  encourages  us  to  look  forward  to  a 
speedy  and  successful  termination  of  the  war,  as  in  the  last  week  of  1862.  *  *  * 
Meanwhile  the  financial  chaos  is  becoming  wider  and  wider.  Hoarders  keep  a  more 
resolute  grasp  than  ever  on  the  necessaries  of  life.  Non-producers  are  suffering  more 
and  more.  What  was  once  competence  has  become  poverty,  poverty  has  become 
penury,  and  penury  is  lapsing  into  pauperism. 

January  I,  1864,  was  the  coldest  day  experienced  in  the  army 
during  the  war.  It  is  also  well  remembered  by  many  in  the  North. 
There  was  much  suffering  among  the  men  whose  cabins  were  not  yet 
completed.  The  regiment  had  moved  out  still  further  on  the 
Sperrysville  road  near  a  pine  forest  to  make  their  winter  quarters 
which  became  known  as  "  Camp  Meade."  The  cabins  complete,  the 
men  became  comfortable  and  settled  down  to  the  routine  which  a 
winter  camp  brings,  such  as  fuel  gathering,  picket  and  sentinel  duty, 
drill,  etc. 

On  the  3d,  Colonel  Morrow  took  command  of  the  Iron  Brigade 
and  Captain  Edwards  of  the  regiment.  The  Sixth  and  Seventh 
Wisconsin  and  Nineteenth  Indiana  having  veteranized  for  another 
three  years  were  now  gone  home  on  the  usual  furlough  in  such  cases, 
and  the  Seventy-sixth  New  York  was  temporarily  attached  to  the 
Iron  Brigade. 

The  mail  which  usually  arrived  at  sunset  in  this  camp,  gladdened 
the  hearts  of  such  as  received  missives  from  home  and  friends.  Next 
to  the  Paymaster  nothing  so  rejoiced  the  hearts  of  the  soldiers  as  the 
sight  of  the  approaching  postmaster.  They  flocked  to  him  like  a  parcel 
of  children  and  listened  for  their  names  to  be  called  out  for  a  letter, 
as  attentively  as  if  it  was  a  lottery  wheel  and  they  expected  some 
valuable  prize  —  for  a  most  valuable  prize  was  a  letter  to  the  soldier, 
only  realized  by  those  who  have  experienced  this  soldier-life 
enjoyment.  Disappointment  and  often  homesickness  followed  a 
failure  to  receive  letters  from  home. 

A  school  of  instruction  for  non-commissioned  officers  was 
established  and  a  house  erected  for  their  drill.  Captain  William 


WINTER    QUARTERS   NEAR   CULPEPPER. 


Hutchinson  had  charge  of  the  school.  The  men  also  built  a  church 
near  Brigade  headquarters,  20  by  30  feet  in  size.  About  the  middle 
of  the  month  the  camp  was  cheered  by  the  arrival  of  Mrs.  Morrow, 
Mrs.  Dillon  and  Mrs.  Way.  Several  promotions  also  occurred  about 
this  period.  First  Lieutenant  George  W.  Burchell  became  Captain; 
private  David  Congdon  became  First  Lieutenant  and  Quartermaster, 
and  Sergeants  George  A.  Pinkney  Benjamin  W.  Hendricks  and 
Everard  B.  Welton  became  First  Lieutenants. 

As  at  home,  so  in  the  army,   a   few  required  penal  discipline, 
though  to  the  credit  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  the  "Guard  House"  was 


PENAL  DRILL  WITH   STICKS  OF    WOOD.— SKETCHED  BY  H.   J.    BROWN. 

almost  always  unknown.  Very  little  use  was  there  at  any  time  for  it. 
The  usual  practice  in  regiments  was  to  appoint  the  Major  to  try 
offenses.  He  was  judge,  jury  and  sheriff.  His  sentences  were  sent 
up  to  the  Brigadier-General  for  approval,  and  they  came  back  scarcely 
ever  modified.  Usually  some  mild  form  of  punishment  was  meted 
out  such  as  deduction  of  pay  for  a  time,  or  in  case  of 
non-commissioned  officers,  reduction  to  the  ranks,  for  failure  to  do 
proper  duty  or  for  unsoldierlike  conduct.  Sometimes  they  were 
compelled  to  drill  a  certain  number  of  hours  each  day  with  rather 
heavy  sticks  of  wood  upon  their  shoulders,  like  the  representation  in 
the  illustration.  These  punishments  were  for  nothing  very  serious  the 
offenders  had  done,  but  still  their  offences  were  sufficient  to  constitute 
violations  of  good  discipline. 

This  was  the  beaten  field  of  war.  The  golden  sunsets  overspread 
great  camps  of  warlike  men,  for  coming  deadly  strife.  Yonder  town 
of  Culpepper  was  a  canvas  city  busy  in  the  arts  of  war.  But  few 


218 


HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


inhabitants  were  left  except  the  old  and  decrepit,  women  and  children, 
who  were  often  dependent  upon  our  commissariat  for  food.  They 
were  all  "Secesh"  and  the  "Bonnie  Blue  Flag"  was  sung  with  spirit 
by  the  lassies  who  had  a  hatred  of  all  Yankeedom;  yet,  those  F.  F.  V. 
damsels  would  occasionally  indulge  in  a  flirtation  with  some  of  the 
dashing  young  Union  officers.  The  denunciation  of  their  peculiar 
institution  led  the  people  to  believe  that  they,  and  not  slavery,  were 
hated.  They  mourned  their  loved  and  lost,  and  the  widows'  weeds 
told  of  bitter  grief. 

A  Division  Review  by  General  Rice  occurred  on  January  29,  and 
the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  carried  off  the  palm  for  appearance. 

RACCOONVILLE    RAID. 

On  Saturday  morning,  February  6,  reveille  sounded  at  5  'o'clock 
with  orders  to  fall  in  at  6.  It  was  raining  and  visions  of  another  mud 
march  loomed  up  in  the  men's  minds.  Coffee  over,  the  regiment  was 
soon  off  for  Brigade  headquarters,  and  at  8  o'clock  the  column 


THE    'GUARD"  OVER  A'VIRGINIA  RAIL  FENCE. 


WINTER   QUARTERS   NEAR   CULPEPPER.  2 19 

marched  for  Raccoon  Ford  and  halted  about  two  miles  away,  being 
cautioned  to  keep  quiet.  While  on  the  inarch  details  were  made 
from  each  regiment  of  the  Iron  Brigade  to  storm  the  town  of 
Raccoonville  on  the  bank  of  the  Rapidan,  directly  under  the  enemy's 
guns,  and  supposed  to  be  occupied  by  their  sharpshooters.  At 
evening  the  picket  formed  a  line  of  battle  for  support,  and  the 
storming  party  went  forward  with  matches  into  the  town  and  in  the 
very  teeth  of  the  enemy,  set  it  on  fire  which  soon  lighted  up  the 
heavens  for  miles  around.  A  dead  Union  cavalryman  was  found 
and  taken  from  one  of  the  houses  first.  The  enemy  opposite  were 
perfectly  amazed  and  soon  could  be  seen  in  line  of  battle  amid  the 
gleam  of  the  burning  buildings,  all  of  which  were  soon  in  blackened 
ruins. 

The  party  returned  to  the  bivouac  at  IIP.  M.  and  all  lay  there 
till  sunset  on  Sunday,  February  7,  when  they  started  for  camp.  The 
roads  were  very  muddy,  it  having  rained  most  of  the  time  since 
leaving  camp.  Three  columns  of  troops  moved  on  parallel  lines 
and  got  somewhat  mixed  up.  The  Twenty-fourth  became  separated 
from  the  Iron  Brigade,  but  all  got  safely  into  camp  about  10  o'clock, 
very  tired.  The  departure  on  this  reconnoissance  fanned  into  life  the 
dying  hopes  of  the  village  secessionists  and  they  began  to  open  their 
shutters  and  fairly  insult  our  men  with  secesh  songs  and  in  other  ways, 
but  upon  the  return  of  the  column  to  camp,  their  doors  were  closed 
again. 

On  the  1 5th  of  February,  General  Sedgwick,  in  the  temporary 
absence  of  General  Meade,  reviewed  the  First  and  Second  Divisions 
of  the  First  Corps.  A  snow  storm  blew  up  before  the  review  was 
over.  On  the  23d  the  whole  First  Corps  was  reviewed  by  General 
Newton  who  had  succeeded  General  Reynolds  in  its  command  after 
the  latter  was  killed  at  Gettysburg. 

WINTER   CAMP    LIFE  —  CAMPAIGN   PREPARATIONS. 

The  months  of  February  and  March  passed  as  usual  in  winter 
camp,  with  an  occasional  death  in  hospital.  Places  of  amusement 
sprung  up.  The  boys  of  the  Fourteenth  Brooklyn  established  an 
amateur  theater  for  the  edification  of  the  camp.  The  veteranized 
regiments  returned  with  some  additions  to  their  ranks  in  new  recruits. 
During  the  latter  part  of  March,  Colonel  Morrow  and  eight 
non-commissioned  officers  left  for  Michigan  on  special  recruiting  duty, 
and  about  this  time  the  ladies  who  had  been  sojourning  in  camp  for 


220 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH  MICHIGAN. 


two  months  went  home  also.  During  Colonel  Morrow's  absence, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  W.  W.  Wight  commanded  the  regiment,  having 
been  promoted  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Flanigan's  position.  But  forty 
recruits  had  thus  far  joined  the  Twenty-fourth.  Occasionally  a  few 
convalescents  and  recovered  wounded  comrades  returned.  The 
recruits  very  readily  picked  up  the  drill  from  the  veterans. 


GENERAL  JOHN   NEWTON,  COMMANDER   OF   FIRST   CORPS. 

One  would  suppose  that  Sunday  would  be  a  welcome  day  in 
camp,  but  usually  the  reverse  was  true,  for  on  that  day,  instead 
of  being  devoted  to  rest,  there  was  more  to  fatigue  the  men  than  on 
any  other  day,  even  with  their  drill.  When  a  severe  march  or  fight 
was  not  planned  for  this  holy  day,  a  review  or  inspection  was  usually 
substituted.  This  day  brought  an  inspection  of  the  soldiers' 
accoutrements  and  knapsacks.  His  "brasses"  must  be  polished  and 


WINTER   QUARTERS   NEAR   CULPEPPER.  221 

shoes  "blackened"  though  there  might  not  be  a  box  of  blacking  and 
brush  within  a  hundred  miles  which  they  could  obtain. 

It  was  customary  for  the  bugle  to  assemble  the  companies  each 
Sunday  morning,  after  guard  mount,  which  was  about  like  a  dress 
parade  on  a  small  scale,  on  the  parade  ground.  Each  man's  gun  must 
be  in  good  order  and  thoroughly  cleaned,  his  knapsack  neatly  packed 
and  everything  in  like  order.  The  Band  formed  on  the  parade 
ground,  the  companies  marching  to  the  music  and  forming  as  if  on 
dress  parade.  The  Adjutant  saluted  the  Colonel,  telling  him  the 
battalion  was  formed.  The  Colonel  then  gave  the  order  for  the 
companies  to  right  wheel.  The  right  of  the  company  stood  still,  and 
the  rest  of  it  wheeled,  halting  at  a  right  angle  from  the  line  in  which 
it  was,  thus  leaving  a  space  between  the  companies.  Then  the 
command  "To  the  rear  —  open  order"  and  the  front  ranks  came  to  an 
"about  face" — the  rear  ranks  having  taken  a  few  paces  to  the  rear. 
This  left  a  space  between  both  ranks  for  the  inspecting  officers  to 
pass.  In  this  position  several  hours  often  intervened  before  these 
functionaries  arrived  —  the  men  meanwhile  standing  there  in  open 
field,  in  rain,  hail,  snow  or  sunshine.  When  they  did  appear  the  men 
were  ordered  to  "  ground  arms "  and  unsling  knapsacks.  These 
orders  had  to  be  executed  with  exactly  the  same  number  and  like 
motions.  Each  man  placed  his  knapsack  at  his  feet,  opened  for 
inspection.  The  contents  must  be  clean  and  neatly  arranged.  The 
overcoat  was  folded  into  a  nice  roll  and  strapped  on  top.  The  right 
company  was  inspected  first  the  Band  playing  a  slow  tune.  As  fast 
as  a  company  was  inspected  the  men  returned  to  their  quarters,  and 
as  it  usually  took  two  hours  to  inspect  the  whole  regiment,  the  last 
company  had  a  tedious  time  waiting.  There  was  so  much  required  of 
the  soldiers  on  Sunday  that  it  called  forth  from  President  Lincoln,  in 
November,  1862,  an  order  against  it,  but  there  never  seemed  to  be 
any  change  from  the  old  practice. 

The  month  of  April  wore  away  and  still  found  the  men  in  their 
winter  huts  at  their  usual  duties,  but  the  opening  spring  brought 
warmer  and  more  cheerful  weather  after  a  winter  of  mud.  Busy 
preparations  began  to  be  made  for  another  campaign.  All  extra 
baggage  was  ordered  turned  in,  the  men  placed  in  light  marching  trim, 
and  the  sutlers  ordered  to  the  rear. 

At  last  the  army  had  a  commander,  one  who  would  brook  no 
interference  from  the  meddlesome  marplots  who  infested  the  war 
office  and  confused  plans  and  their  execution.  The  President  had  let 
the  contract  of  finishing  up  the  rebellion  to  Ulysses  S.  Grant,  without 

(15) 


222  HISTORY  OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

condition  or  interference  from  headless  subheads.  The  confident 
belief  was  that  the  task  would  be  accomplished  though  at  the  cost  of 
much  blood.  Still  if  it  be  not  spilled  in  vain,  and  the  lives  lost  would 
only  count  for  some  good  result,  the  men  were  willing  for  the 
sacrifice. 

Soon    after   his    appointment    as     Lieutenant-General,     General 
Grant  made  his  headquarters  with  the  army  of  the  Potomac  where  he 


GENERAL  ULYSSES  S.   GRANT. 


directed  affairs  till  the  close  of  the  war,  although  General  Meade 
continued  its  commander,  receiving  his  orders  from  Grant,  whose  tents 
were  but  a  few  rods  apart.  He  immediately  set  about  a  reorganization 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  into  three  corps,  known  as  the  Second, 
Fifth  and  Sixth  Corps,  with  a  separate  corps  under  Burnside.  The 
old  First  and  Third  Corps  were  broken  up  and  consolidated  with  the 
others.  Most  of  the  First  Corps  went  into  the  Fifth  Corps  under 
General  Warren.  General  Hancock  continued  in  command  of 
the  Second  Corps.  The  Sixth  Corps  was  under  Sedgwick. 
This  produced  no  little  ill  feeling  at  first,  as  the  brigade  and 
corps  disorganized  would  lose  their  identity  purchased  with  blood 
and  held  most  sacred.  However,  the  men  were  permitted  to  wear 
their  old  corps  badges.  Upon  retiring  from  the  command  of  the  First 
Corps,  after  its  consolidation,  General  Newton  said  of  it  in  an  order: 


HON.    AUSTIN   BLAIR,    "  WAR  GOVERNOR"  OF  MICHIGAN. 


WINTER   QUARTERS   NEAR   CULPEPPER.  225 

Identified  by  its  services  with  the  history  of  the  war,  the  First  Corps  gave  at 
Gettysburg  a  crowning  proof  of  valor  and  endurance  in  saving  from  the  grasp  of  the 
enemy  the  strong  position  upon  which  the  battle  was  fought.  Its  terrible  losses  in 
that  conflict  attest  its  supreme  devotion  to  the  country.  Though  the  corps  has  lost 
its  distinctive  name,  history  will  not  be  silent  upon  the  magnitude  of  its  services. 

«  The  Fifth  Corps  now  consisted  of  four  divisions,  as  follows  : —  1st, 
General  Griffin ;  2d,  General  Robinson ;  3d,  General  Crawford ;  and 
4th,  General  Wadsworth.  The  latter  division  consisted  of  three 
brigades:  1st,  General  Cutler ;  2d,  General  Rice;  3d  General  Stone. 
The  old  Iron  Brigade  in  the  main  preserved  its  identity,  except  it 
now  became  the  First  Brigade,  Fourth  Division,  Fifth  Corps.  It 
consisted  of  the  Second,  Sixth  and  Seventh  Wisconsin,  Twenty-fourth 
Michigan  and  Nineteenth  Indiana  as  formerly,  to  which  had  been 
since  attached  the  Seventh  Indiana  and  a  battalion  of  the  First  New 
York  Sharpshooters.  General  Cutler  commanded  the  Iron  Brigade, 
General  Wadsworth  the  Fourth  Division  and  General  Warren  the 
Fifth  Corps.  If  the  reader  will  be  careful  to  remember  this 
arrangement,  it  will  often  make  clear  the  movements  of  our  regiment 
and  brigade. 


NEW    FLAG   FOR   THE  TWENTY-FOURTH  MICHIGAN. 

The  old  flag  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  having  become  too 
battle  torn  for  duty,  the  friends  of  the  regiment  in  Detroit  purchased 
a  new  one  for  it,  and  its  presentation  to  Colonel  Morrow  for  the 
regiment  called  forth  a  large  concourse  of  people  on  the  Campus 
Martius,  on  April  27,  1864.  Judge  James  V.  Campbell  delivered  a 
patriotic  and  finished  address  on  the  occasion  in  which,  after  reviewing 
the  honorable  record  of  the  regiment,  he  said: 

There  is  no  duty  so  pleasant  as  that  of  publicly  honoring  those  who  have 
defended  their  country,  I  feel  proud  to  express  the  thanks  of  the  people  of  this  old 
county  to  her  gallant  sons,  brave  among  the  bravest,  for  doing  deeds  that  will  crown 
her  with  endless  glory.  The  noble  veteran  Twenty-fourth  rests  its  fame  securely  in 
the  pages  of  history  whose  like  the  world  never  saw.  Time  has  never  before  looked 
upon  so  sublime  an  uprising  as  its  organization.  On  August  26,  1862,  the 
Twenty-fourth  regiment  assembled  in  this  place  to  receive  a  flag.  They  were  the 
very  flower  of  our  citizens  from  all  parts  of  the  county.  The  regiment  has  followed 
that  flag  on  many  a  bloody  field.  At  Gettysburg,  fourteen  different  persons  bore  it 
aloft  and  guarded  it,  nine  of  whom  were  killed  or  mortally  wounded  on  the  field  and 
two  otherwise  wounded.  *  *  *  I  need  follow  no  more  these  thinned  ranks.  Its 
old  flag,  begrimed  and  in  tatters,  has  never  been  waved  over  cowards  or  been  dimmed 
by  the  blight  of  disloyalty.  We  replace  it  to-day  with  another  blazoned  with  the 
memorials  of  battle  and  destined  we  hope  to  return  with  greater  glories.  To  you, 
sir,  [turning  to  Colonel  Morrow]  I  commit  this  flag.  I  know  it  will  never  be 


226  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

dishonored,  your  gallant  men  have  done  too  well  to  fail  in  the  future.  Bear  to  your 
command  the  hearty  greetings  of  their  fellow  citizens,  who  will  never  forget  the 
heroes  of  Gettysburg,  the  Iron  Twenty-fourth. 

The  following   poem    by    D.    Bethune  Duffield,   Esq.,   was  then 
read : 

1.  What  tho'  fair  maids  be  sighing,  and  what  tho'  wives  are  crying, 

As  they  buckle  on  the  belt  ; 
Our  flag  is  up  and  flying,  and  soldier  boys  are  dying, 

Where  the  battle's  blows  are  dealt. 
CHORUS  —  So  march,  boys,  march  with  the  gallant  Twenty-fourth, 

And  o'er  each  hill  and  glade,  where  our  noble  boys  are  laid, 
We'll  sing  the  priceless  Worth  of  the  Triple  State  Brigade, 
The  Ironclad  Brigade  and  the  gallant  Twenty-fourth. 

2.  You  know  the  stormy  waking  when  day  was  slowly  breaking, 

'Round  Frederick's  cloudy  height ; 
How  like  the  thunder  quaking,  our  guns  the  hills  were  shaking, 

And  how  bloody  was  the  fight. 
CHORUS  —  Then  march,  boys,  march  with  the  gallant  Twenty-fourth, 

And  on  Frederick's  Esplanade,  where  our  noble  boys  are  laid,  etc. 

3.  At  Fitzhugh's  bloody  crossing,  how  dark  those  waves  were  tossing, 

As  our  boats  rushed  on  their  way. 
With  oar  and  musket  clashing,  and  bullets  round  us  splashing, 

How  we  stormed  on  to  the  fray. 
CHORUS  —  Then  march,  boys,  march  with  the  gallant  Twenty-fourth, 

And  along  the  river's  shade,  when  the  cannon  on  us  played,  etc. 

4.  Then  through  the  midnight  marching,  our  tongues  all  dry  and  parching, 

To  Chancellorsville  we  prest  ; 
When,  from  the  dead  fast  piling,  the  noblest  souls  were  filing, 

To  the  soldier's  final  rest. 
CHORUS  —  Then  march,  boys,  march  with  the  gallant  Twenty-fourth, 

And  through  that  dreary  glade  where  those  hero  boys  are  laid,  etc. 

5.  Next,  thro'  Gettysburg  we  trod  ;  and  still  trusting  in  our  God, 

Thro"  those  Independence  Days, 
With  our  blood  we  soaked  the  sod,  and  o'er  hundreds  heaped  the  clod, 

Their  holy  mound  of  praise. 
CHORUS  —  Then  march,  boys,  march  with  the  gallant  Twenty-fourth, 

And  when  that  grassy  glade,  by  our  blue  coats  was  o'erlaid,  etc. 

6.  Then  Peck  our  colors  grasping,  tho'  death  his  form  was  clasping, 

Still  held  them  up  in  sight, 
Till  other  hands  were  reaching,  and  other  boys  beseeching, 

To  bear  them  thro'  the  fight. 
CHORUS  —  So  march,  boys,  march  with  the  gallant  Twenty-fourth, 

And  where  they  all  were  laid,  Grace,  Dickey,  Safford,  Speed,  etc. 


WINTER   QUARTERS   NEAR   CULPEPPER.  22/ 

7.  That  flag  now  rent  and  tattered,  by  shell  and  bullet  shattered, 

Is  sacred  in  our  eyes  ; 
For  when  the  Captain  found  it,  five  brave  ones  were  lying  around  it, 

Who  fell  to  save  the  prize. 
CHORUS  —  Then  march,  boys,  march  with  the  gallant  Twenty-fourth, 

Since  by  each  broken  blade,  that  on  their  breasts  were  laid, 
They  won  immortal  birth,  for  the  Triple  State  Brigade, 
For  the  Iron  Clad  Brigade  and  our  gallant  Twenty-fourth. 

8.  What  tho'  fair  maids  be  sighing,  and  what  tho'  wives  are  crying. 

As  they  buckle  on  the  belt, 
Our  flag  is  up  and  flying,  and  soldier  boys  are  dying, 

Where  the  battle's  blows  are  dealt. 
CHORUS  —  So  march,  boys,  march  with  the  gallant  Twenty-fourth, 

And  if  by  hill  or  glade,  in  our  blanket  robes  we're  laid, 
Still  our  land  shall  see  the  worth  of  our  Triple  State  Brigade, 
The  Iron  Clad  Brigade  and  the  gallant  Twenty-fourth. 

After  the  reading  of  the  above  poem,  Colonel  Morrow  made  a 
long  speech  exhorting  all  to  rally  to  the  support  of  the  President,  to 
stay  up  his  hands  as  Joshua  stayed  up  the  hands  of  Moses  of  old. 
He  bore  the  new  flag  back  to  the  regiment  and  the  following  color 
guard  volunteered  to  carry  and  protect  it: 

Color  Bearers :  Sergeant  George  R.  Welch  of  C  and  Corporal  Thomas  Saunders 
of  K.  Color  Guard:  Corporals  George  Higbee  of  B,  Patrick  Coffee  of  E,  Marshall 
Bills  of  H,  Joseph  U.  B.  Hedger  of  I,  Amos  B.  Cooley  of  F,  William  Thompson  of  A, 
John  T.  Paris  of  G  and  Walter  Morley  of  D. 

Several  of  these  were  promoted  to  Corporals  for  this  honorable 
and  dangerous  task.  The  old  flag  was  cut  in  pieces  and  divided  up 
among  the  men  of  the  Twenty-fourth  as  mementos. 

Colonel  Morrow  having  returned  to  the  regiment  on  May  I,  1864, 
immediately  put  it  in  shape  for  the  campaign  about  to  open. 
Marching  orders  were  received  on  the  3d  of  May.  The  following  was 
the  roster  of  the  officers  of  the  regiment  at  that  date,  present  for 
duty: 

Colonel,  HENRY  A.  MORROW.  Captain,  GEO.  W.  BURCHELL,  B. 

Lt.-Col.,  W.  W.  WIGHT.  "  JOHN  WITHERSPOON,  C. 

Major,  A.  M.  EDWARDS.  "  GEORGE  HUTTON,  E. 

Adjutant,  SERIL  CHILSON.  "  EDWIN  E.  NORTON,  H. 

Surgeon,  J.  H.  BEECH.  "  WM.  R.  DODSLEY,  K. 

Asst.  Surgeon,  GEO.  W.  TOWAR.  ist  Lieut.,  MICHAEL  DEMPSEY,  A. 

Chaplain,  WM.  C.  WAY.  "  GEO.  A.  Ross,  B. 

Qr.  Master,  DAVID  CONGDON.  "  W.  B.  HUTCHINSON,  C. 

Com.  Sergt.,  C.  H.  McCoNNELL.  "  GEO.  W.  HAIGH,  D. 

Qr.  M.  Sergt.,  ALONZO  EATON.  "  BENJ.  W.  HENDRICKS,  F. 

Hosp.  Steward,  E.  D.  WALLACE.  "  E.  B.  WELTON,  G. 

Prin.  Musician,  EDWIN  COTTON,  "  E.  B.  WILKIE,  I. 

Sergt.  Major,  A.  F.  ZIEGLER.  "  GEO.  H.  PINKNEY,  K. 


228 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


Captain  Richard  S.  Dillon  of  A  was  Acting  Assistant  Inspec 
tor-General,  and  Lieutenant  Andrew  J.  Connor  of  E  was  Acting 
Aide,  on  the  Iron  Brigade  staff.  Both  had  been  appointed  to  such 
duties  January  6,  1864.  Captain  John  M.  Farland  of  D  had  been  in 
the  hospital  in  Washington  for  treatment  since  March  20,  1864. 
Captain  William  Hutchinson  of  G  was  in  Michigan  on  recruiting 
service.  Of  the  thirty-nine  commissioned  officers  originally  with  the 
regiment,  including  the  surgeons  and  chaplain,  but  ten  were  left  at 
this  time,  besides  three  who  were  held  in  Southern  prisons:  Captain 
Gordon  of  I,  First  Lieutenant  Sprague  of  F,  and  Second  Lieutenant 
Whiting  of  A. 


THE   OLD   FLAG. 


CHAPTER    XII. 


GRANTS  CAMPAIGN -1864. 


BATTLE    OF   THE    WILDERNESS. 

MAY   i,  1864,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac   lay  along  the  north 
side  of  the  Rapidan,  and  Lee's  army  was  well  intrenched 
a  few  miles  south  of  that  stream.     Grant  had  99,000  men 
and  274  guns;  Lee  had  62,000  men  and  224  guns.      Grant 
had  the  most  men  and  reserves  from  the  North  to  fill  up  his  depleted 
ranks.     Lee  had  no  such  reserve  from  the  South  to  draw  on.      Boys 
of  seventeen   and   old  men  of  fifty-five  had  been    gathered  into  his 
ranks  and  the  last  successful  levy  had  been  made.     But  Lee  had  the 
advantage  in  defensive  and  inner  positions,  the  country  being  better 
adapted    to    a   defensive    than    offensive    campaign.      At    midnight 
of  Tuesday,  May  3,  the  bugle  once  more  sounded  the  fall-in  call,  and 
the  army  began  its  march  on  the  great  forward  movement  to  exhaust 
the  military  resources  of  the  rebellion. 


ROUTE  OF  IRON  BRIAGDE  TO  THE  RA  PI  DAK. 
(229) 


230 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


Soon  after  midnight  on  Wednesday  morning,  May  4,  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  with  the  Iron  Brigade  and  Fifth  Corps,  broke 
camp  near  Culpepper.  They  passed  around  to  the  south  of  that  town, 
thence  by  Pony  Mountain  through  Stevensburg,  about  twenty  miles, 
and  on  to  Germanna  Ford  by  10  o'clock  A.  M.  The  march  was  very 
hard  and  the  weather  warm.  After  a  halt  of  an  hour,  it  crossed  the 
Rapidan  without  opposition,  on  pontoons,  and  continued  along  the 
Germanna  Plank  Road  to  Its  junction  with  the  Orange  Court  House 
Turnpike ;  then  east  to  the  Wilderness  Tavern,  and  bivouacked 
where  Grant  and  Meade  came  up  the  next  morning,  Thursday,  May  5, 
and  made  their  headquarters  during  the  battle. 

The  Wilderness  is  a  few  miles  west  of  Chancellorsville  battle 
ground  and  is  so  named  from  its  makeup  of  dense  second-growth 
woods  and  entangled  thickets  amid  deep  scrub  pines,  in  which  troops 
could  be  seen  but  a  few  rods  away,  nor  could  artillery  be  used  to 
advantage. 

Early  this  morning,  May  5,  the  Twenth-fourth  was  ordered  out, 

and    coffee  over,  it    was   drawn  up  in 

line  and  men  and  guns  counted.  There 
were  present  302  men  in  the  ranks, 
(some  of  whom  were  recruits),  three 
field  officers  besides  the  Adjutant  and 
Sergeant-Major,  and  thirteen  line 
officers,  a  total  of  320. 

Shortly  after  the  roll  had  been  called, 
the  Corps  took  up  its  line  of  march  for 
Parker's  store  on  the  Orange  Court 
House  Plank  Road,  Crawford's  Division 
leading,  followed  by  Wadsworth's,  with 
Robinson's  and  Griffin's  bringing  up 
the  rear.  The  Corps  advanced  along 
a  woody  road,  and  shortly  after  the 
head  of  the  column  had  reached  the 
open  ground  at  Chewning's  farm,  about  a  mile  from  Parker's  Store,  the 
enemy's  skirmishers  were  encountered.'  A  halt  was  ordered.  The 
head  of  the  column  countermarched  a  short  distance,  turned  to  the 
right  and  formed  a  line  of  battle  at  right  angles  with  the  woody  road, 
facing  southwest.  Griffin  was  ordered  to  form  his  Division  on  the 
right  of  the  Orange  Turnpike  and  Wadsworth  on  the  left,  supported 
on  the  left  by  Dennison's  Brigade  of  Robinson's  Division.  As  the 
line  of  battle  was  formed,  it  placed  the  Iron  Brigade  at  the  left  of  the 


GERMANNA  CROSSING. 


GRANT'S  CAMPAIGN — 1864.  231 

Division  and  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  on  the  left  of  the  Iron  Brigade. 
On  its  right  was  the  Nineteenth  Indiana,  followed  by  the  Second  and 
Seventh  Wisconsin  on  the  right.  The  Seventh  Indiana  and  Sixth 
Wisconsin  were  held  in  reserve.  In  these  positions  the  two  Divisions, 
about  10  o'clock,  were  ordered  forward  to  attack  the  enemy.  Pushing 
through  the  dense  thickets,  at  times  marching  by  the  flank  to  close  up 
with  the  right,  then  again  in  line,  the  two  divisions  advanced  about 
one  mile  with  the  skirmish  line  in  front.  Here  the  Confederate  line 
of  battle  was  encountered,  two  lines  deep,  made  up  of  troops  from 
General  Swell's  Corps.  The  firing  at  once  became  brisk  all  along  the 
line,  and  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  had  begun  in  earnest.  After  a 
short  but  very  sharp  engagement,  the  Iron  Brigade  with  its  old-time 
yell,  charged  the  enemy,  completely  destroying  the  first  line  of  battle 
which  consisted  of  Jones'  Brigade  of  Johnson's  Division,  capturing 
about  300  prisoners,  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  securing  the  battle 
flag  of  the  Forty-eighth  Virginia  of  Jones'  Brigade.  This  flag  was 
taken  from  a  Confederate  color-bearer  by  Major  Albert  M.  Edwards 
of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan.  This  act  was  witnessed  by  Sergeant 
William  C.  Bates  of  Company  A  of  the  latter  regiment.  We  are  thus 
particular  because  some  accounts  attribute  the  capture  of  that  flag  to 
another  regiment.  Major  Edwards  carried  the  flag  to  the  rear. 
When  Colonel  Morrow  was  brought  to  the  regiment  on  a  stretcher 
after  he  was  wounded,  he  made  a  brief  good-bye  speech  to  the  boys. 

Major  Edwards  tore  the  captured  flag  from  its  staff  and  put  it  in 
Colonel  Morrow's  haversack.  The  latter  took  it  to  the  hospital  in 
Washington  with  him,  and  then  to  Detroit  where  it  was  on  exhibition. 
It  was  afterwards  placed  in  the  archives  of  the  War  Department  at 
Washington. 

Pushing  ahead  for  the  second  line  of  the  enemy  without  waiting 
to  reform  its  own  ranks,  the  Iron  Brigade  was  soon  engaged  in  another 
sharp  fight  with  this  second  line  which  proved  to  be  the  "Stonewall 
Brigade."  Driving  them  back,  they  were  believed  to  have  retired 
from  the  field.  Instead,  the  commanding  officer  of  the  "Stonewall 
Brigade,"  having  discovered  that  the  left  flank  of  the  Iron  Brigade 
was  entirely  unprotected,  had  fallen  back  beyond  the  range  of  the 
Union  guns,  reformed  his  ranks,  moved  by  his  right  flank  and  placed 
his  brigade  on  the  left  flank  and  rear  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan, 
and  between  it  and  Dennison's  brigade  which  should  have  protected 
that  flank.*  McCandless'  Brigade  of  Crawford's  Division  had  been 


*An  officer  of  the  Stonewall  Brigade,  who  was  in  the  battle,  during  a  conversation  with  a  member 
of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  some  years  ago,  stated  that  his  Brigade  executed  the  movement  described 
abovej 


232 


HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


ordered  to  make  connection  with  the  left  of  the  Iron  Brigade  when  it 
advanced  through  the  woods,  but  had  failed  to  keep  up  with  the 
rapid  advance  of  Wadsworth's  Division.  This  movement  of  the 
enemy  compelled  the  left  of  Wadsworth's  Division  to  fall  back  in 
some  confusion  and  thus  all  the  advantage  gained  by  the  hard  fighting 


was  sacrificed  by  the  failure  of  Dennison's  Brigade  properly  to  protect 
the  left  flank  of  the  Division. 

Historians  generally  have  asserted  that  in  the  advance  the  left  of 
Wadsworth's  Division  changed  its  direction  so  as  to  project  its  left 
flank  directly  in  front  of  the  enemy's  line  of  battle.  Possibly  the 
direction  man  have  been  changed,  but  upon  positive  proof  by  actors 
in  the  fight,  the  line  of  the  enemy  was  struck  squarely  in  front  by  the 


GRANT'S  CAMPAIGN — 1864. 


233 


Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  and  not  until  that  movement  of  the 
"  Stonewall  Brigade  "  described  above,  did  the  Iron  Brigade  receive  a 
single  shot  from  the  left  flank  and  rear.  Some  of  the  men  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  were  captured  before  they  had  gone  twenty 
feet  to  the  rear,  running  directly  into  the  Confederate  lines. 

The  whole  line  of  Wadsworth's  Division  fell  back  through  the 
woods  in  considerable  confusion  and  reformed  near  the  Lacey  House. 
Here  the  troops  were  ordered  to  throw  up  intrenchments,  and  while 
engaged  in  this  work,  Wadsworth's  Division  was  ordered  to  stop  and 
march  to  the  left  to  support  the  right  of  the  Second  Corps.  Moving 
into  a  dense  woods,  Stone's  Pennsylvania  Brigade  in  the  advance,  the 


THE    WILDERNESS   BATTLE-FIELD. 


234 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH  MICHIGAN. 


lines  of  the  enemy  were  soon  developed,  and  a  heavy  musketry  fire 
resulted  between  this  brigade  and  the  enemy's  skirmishers.  The 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  in  this  movement  and  the  fighting  of  the 
next  day  was  faced  by  the  rear  ranks.  The  enemy  retired  slowly  and 
about  8  o'clock  P.  M.  the  firing  died  away.  The  troops  of 
Wadsworth's  Division  laid  on  their  arms  all  night  in  close  proximity 
to  the  enemy,  the  skirmish  lines  of  the  opposing  forces  not  being  over 
one  hundred  feet  apart.  Frequent  alarms  were  given  during  the 
night  which  resulted  in  the  killing  and  wounding  of  a  number  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  who  were  out  on  picket. 

To  show  how  close  the  lines  were  and  the  density  of  the  forest,  the 
skirmish  line  on  the  right  of  the  Twenty-fourth  was  ordered  forward, 
when  a  voice  rang  out  a  few  paces  in  front,  "  Halt !  who  comes  there?" 
"Friends,"  was  the  answer.  "What  division  do  you  belong  to?" 
"The  Fourth,"  was  the  reply.  "What  State  do  you  come  from?" 
"New  York."  The  reply  came  back  "shoot  the  -  -  yankees." 
Many  from  both  armies  in  looking  for  water  during  the  night,  found 
themselves  prisoners  within  the  opposing  lines,  so  close  were  they  and 
so^thick  the  underbrush. 

About  five  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  6th,  General  Birney's 
Division  of  Hancock's  Corps  advanced  past  the  left  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  in  line  of  battle,  and  marched  straight  for 
the  enemy's  lines,  the  whole  of  Wadsworth's  Division  advancing  at 


IRON   BRIGADE   FIGHTING   IN  THE  WILDERNESS. 


GRANT'S  CAMPAIGN — 1864.  235 

the  same  time,  General  Rice's  Brigade  forming  the  first  line  and  the 
Iron  Brigade  the  second  and  third.  The  battle  was  resumed  with 
determination  on  both  sides.  Warren  attacked  Ewell's  right  which 
had  been  strengthened  during  the  night.  The  attacks  on  both  sides 
were  frequent  and  persistent.  It  was  learned  from  prisoners  that 
Longstreet  was  expected  with  I2,ooo-men  to  attack  our  left.  Hence 
Wadsworth's  Division,  as  above  noted,  had  been  sent  to  assist 
Hancock.  Returning  to  the  Iron  Brigade,  in  a  few  minutes  a  heavy 
fire  of  musketry  was  opened  by  the  contending  lines,  the  woods  being 
too  heavy  to  permit  the  use  of  artillery.  The  Confederate  line, 
consisting  of  Hill's  Corps,  had  been  driven  back  at  all  points,  when 
Longstreet's  Corps  came  up,  formed  quickly,  and  at  once  attacked 
Birney's  and  Wadsworth's  Divisions.  A  very  severe  conflict  ensued 
between  these  Divisions  and  the  enemy,  the  lines  at  times  swaying 
backwards  and  forwards. 

The  Union  troops  by  this  time  had  approached  near  the  open 
ground  of  Tapp's  farm  which  was  held  by  the  enemy's  artillery.  At 
once  the  guns  were  turned  upon  the  Union  lines  with  deadly  effect, 
and  as  not  a  single  gun  could  be  brought  into  action  by  our  forces, 
the  result  was  very  demoralizing  to  the  troops  subjected  to  the  heavy 
fire,  coming  at  the  time  when  Longstreet's  fresh  troops  were  charging 
upon  them.  The  Union  line  began  to  waver,  break  up  and  fall  back 
in  confusion,  finally  giving  way.  The  troops  of  the  Second  Corps 
fell  back  to  their  earthworks  on  the  Brock  Road  from  where  they 
had  started  in  the  morning,  while  Wadsworth's  fell  back  to  the  open 
ground  near  the  Lacey  House.  Some  of  the  Twenty-fourth  getting 
mixed  up  with  Birney's  troops  in  the  retreat,  fell  back  with  them  to  the 
Brock  Road  and  aided  in  repulsing  the  Confederates  when  they 
charged  on  Hancock's  position.  Twice  they  massed  their  forces  and 
fell  upon  the  Federal  position,  but  were  repulsed  each  time  with 
terrible  slaughter.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  6th,  the  Iron  Brigade 
built  earthworks  and  remained  there  all  day  the  /th,  the  opposing 
lines  only  being  known  by  the  continuous  yelling. 

While  gallantly  trying  to  rally  his  flying  troops  who  were  hard 
pressed,  General  Wadsworth  had  two  horses  shot  under  him,  and  he 
was  soon  after  mortally  wounded,  dying  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
His  death  produced  profound  sorrow.  A  man  of  large  wealth,  he 
offered  his  services  to  the  government  and  served  without  pay,  nobly 
sacrificing  his  life  in  its  defence.  The  Union  loss  by  his  death  was 
equalled  only  by  that  of  General  Reynolds.  Colonel  Williams  of  the 
Nineteenth  Indiana  was  killed  and  General  Robinson  wounded. 
Several  leading  Confederate  Generals  were  also  killed  and  wounded, 
including  General  Longstreet.  The  loss  on  both  sides  was  fearful. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


GENERAL  JAMES   S.    WADSWORTH,    KILLED   IN  THE   WILDERNESS,    MAY  6,  1864. 

The  woods  took  fire  in  many  places  and  it  is  estimated  that  200 
Union  wounded  perished  in  the  flames  and  smoke,  among  whom  were 
several  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  undoubtedly,  as  they  have 
never  been  heard  from  since.  The  Union  loss  in  killed  and  wounded 
was  12,485  in  addition  to  the  captured.  The  following  were  the  losses 
of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  in  the  Battle  of  the  Wilderness,  May 
5  and  6,  1864.  Those  marked  with  a  star  (*)  occurred  on  the  second 
day,  all  the  rest  occurred  on  the  first  day  of  the  battle: 

DIED    ON   THE   BATTLE-FIELD. 

Captain  GEORGE  HUTTON.  of  E.  Body  supposed  to  have  been  burned  up  in  the 
woods. 

First  Lieutenant  WILLIAM  B.  HUTCHINSON,*  of  C. 
Sergt.  Charles  Pinkerton,  C.  James  McKee,*  C. 

"     Erastus  W.  Hine,  F.  William  McLaughlin,  C, 

"      Oren  S.  Stoddard,   F.  Theodore  Palmer,   D. 

Corp.  Anton  Krapohl,  B.  John  Stoffold,  F. 

"      John  A.  Bartlett,  C.  Edwin  Belong,  G. 

"      Edward  H.  Hamer,  G.  Gilbert  Dubuc,  H. 

Henry  McNames  (R),  H.  George  Teufil,  H. 

Seymour  L.  Burns,  I.  Francis  E.  Miller,  K. 

James  Malley,  A. 

Privates  Burns  and  McNames  were  desperately  wounded  and  their  bodies  are 
supposed  to  have  been  burned  up  in  the  woods. 


GRANT'S  CAMPAIGN — 1864. 


237 


WOUNDED. 


Colonel  HENRY  A.  MORROW,  severely  in  leg. 
Captain  JOHN  WITHERSPOON,  breast,  C. 
First  Lieutenant  BENJAMIN  W.  HENDRICKS,  wrist,  G 
Sergeant  Major  Augustus  F.  Ziegler,  (N.  C.  S.) 


Sergt.  Joseph  R.  Boyle,  neck,  E. 

Wm.  H.  Hoffman,  breast,  H. 

"       Albert  E.  Bigelovv,  leg,  I. 
Corp.    Jas.  P.  Horen,  arm  amputated,  A. 

"       Peter  N.  Girardin,*  hand,  A. 

"       George  A.  McDonald,  ear,  A. 

"       Clark  Eddy,  scalp,  C. 

"       Aiken  Holloway,  bowels,  C. 

"       John  A.  Sherwood,  arm,  C. 

"       John  W.  Proctor,  thumb,   E. 
Peter  Desnoyer,  (R.),  arm,  A. 
Albert  Peyscha,  both  legs,  A. 
Edward  B.  Chope,  contusion,  B. 
Robert  H.  Collison  (R.),  scalp,  B. 
John  B    McCrudden,*  hand,  B. 
Wm  A.  Herrendeen,  knee,  C. 
Frank  T.  Stewart,  hand,  C. 
Robert  C.  Bird,  leg,  D. 
Samuel  Brown*  (R.),  hand,  D. 


Samuel  Reed,*  (R.)  hand,  D 
Joseph  Collins,  (R.)  arm,  E. 
John  Moynahan,  body,  E. 
John  G.  Klink,  hand,  F. 
Frank  H.  Pixley,*  body,  F. 
Samuel  Brown,  thumb,  G. 
James  Ford,  hand,  G. 
Charles  Stoflet,  knee,  G. 
Thomas  Burnett  (R  ),  hand,  H. 
Michael  Donavan,  arm,  H. 
Edward  L.  Farrell,  body,   H. 
Jacob  H.  Canfield,  knee,  I. 
Palmer  Rhoades,  body,  I. 
William  J.  Chase,  hand,  K. 
Charles  Gaffney,  body,  K. 
Isaac  I.  Green,  leg,  K. 
Isaac  M.  Jenner,  hand,  K. 
Barney  J.  Litogot,  hand,  K. 
Charles  A.  Sutliff,  hand,  K. 


CAPTURED    AND    TAKEN   TO    SOUTHERN    PRISONS. 


Capt.  EDWIN  E.  NORTON,  H. 
Sergt.  William  C.  Bates,  w'd,  A. 
George  Dingwall,  A. 

"       E.  Ben  Fischer,  D. 

"       Eugene  F.  Nardin,  w'd,  I. 

"       Augustus  Hussey,  H. 

"       Emile  Mettetal.I. 
Corp.    Wm.  H.  Blanchard,  A. 

"       Mark  T.  Chase,  w'd,  A. 

"       Charles  W.  Fuller,  A. 

"       John  M.  Andres,  w'd,  D. 
Rice  F.  Bond,  E. 

"       Levi  S.  Freeman,  F. 

"       Israel  Harris,  H. 

"       Henry  L.  Houk,  I. 

"       Joseph  U.  B.  Hedger,  w'd,  I. 
Jonathan  D.  Chase,  A. 
Alexis  Declaire,  A. 
Francis  Griffin  (Recruit),  A. 
Robert  Phillips,  A. 
Lewis  A.  Baldwin,  B 
Samuel  Fury,  B. 
Peter  Velie  (Recruit),  B. 
Charles  R.  Dobbins,  C. 

Summary  :  —  Died  on 
also,  7  ;  other  prisoners,  39. 


George  W.  Kynoch,  w'd,  C, 
Andrew  B.  Lanning,  C. 
Nelson  Pooler,  C. 
Alfred  C.  Willis,  C. 
George  P.  Roth,  D. 
Patrick  Connelly,  F. 
William  Jewell,  G. 
Marion  Hamilton,   G. 
Andrew  Musberger  (R),  G. 
Clement  Saunier,  (R),  G. 
Philip  T.  Dunroe,  H. 
Marquis  L.  Lapaugh,  H. 
George  M.  Riley,  H. 
Hiram  Bentley,   I. 
James  S.  Innes,   I. 
James  Johnson  (R.),  I. 
George  W.  Ormsbee,  I 
Joseph  Peyette  (R.),   I. 
Max  Pischa  (R),  K. 
Frederick  Smoots  (R.),  K. 
Wilber  F.  Straight,  w'd,  K. 

MISSING. 

Julius  Schultz  (R.),  A. 


Battle-field,    19 ;    wounded,   42  ;    wounded   and  captured 
Total   107,  equal  to  one-third  of  the   regiment  in  two 

days.     The  casualties   of  the  rest  of  the  Iron   Brigade,   in   this  and  the  rest  of  the 
engagements  will  appear  in  a  later  chapter. 


2^8  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


THE   SITUATION.  —  LEFT   FLANK   MOVEMENT. 

The  fearful  losses  of  the  past  two  days  satisfied  both  commanders, 
Grant  and  Lee,  that  no  advantage  could  accrue  to  either,  by  a  renewal 
of  the  bloody  contest  in  the  Wilderness.  Saturday  morning,  May  7, 
found  each  army  behind  its  intrenched  position.  The  contest  so  far 
had  allowed  no  maneuvering  and  little  generalship.  The  armies  were 
but  a  few  rods  apart  and  yet  scarcely  able  to  see  each  other's  works, 
the  noise  of  the  guns  and  cheers  of  the  men  only,  disclosing  their 
positions.  Like  two  huge  serpents  they  had  rolled  against  each  other 
and  fought  till  each  seemed  tired  out.  It  was  neither  a  victory  nor  a 
defeat  for  either,  and  there  was  grim  determination  on  both  sides. 
The  day  was  spent  with  but  little  fighting  and  with  some  changes  of 
position,  the  Iron  Brigade  moving  its  line  half  a  mile  to  the  right  in 
rear  of  some  other  troops. 

General  Lysander  Cutler  who  had  thus  far  been  in  command  of 
the  Iron  Brigade  now  took  command  of  the  Division  in  place  of 
General  Wadsworth,  killed,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Robinson  of  the 
Seventh  Wisconsin  assumed  command  of  the  Iron  Brigade. 

Before  setting  out  on  this  campaign,  General  Grant  had  resolved 
upon  the  "left  flank  movement"  to  Richmond,  by  which  was  meant, 
that  in  case  of  failure  to  defeat  or  rout  the  enemy  in  one  place,  he 
would  flank  him  out  of  such  position  and  compel  him  to  fight  on 
another  field.  This  was  done  by  moving  by  night  one  corps,  usually 
the  right,  around  to  the  left  of  his  army,  and  so  on.  About  9  o'clock 
Saturday  night  May  7,  Grant  began  his  first  left  flank  movement, 
towards  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  about  thirteen  miles  distant.  Lee 
discovered  the  movement  and  started  his  army  by  a  parallel  road 
about  a  mile  south,  for  the  same  place,  he  moving  on  the  chord  and 
Grant  on  the  arc  of  the  circle.  (See  map  on  page  233.) 

FIGHTING   AT   LAUREL   HILL   (FIELD    OF   SPOTTSYLVANIA). 

Warren's  Corps  (in  which  was  the  Iron  Brigade)  started  by  way  of 
Todd's  Tavern  on  the  Brock  Road,  but  by  reason  of  impeding  trains, 
fallen  trees,  and  the  enemy's  cavalry,  it  did  not  reach  Spottsylvania, 
Lee's  forces  getting  there  first.  The  Iron  Brigade  arriving  at  Todd's 
Tavern,  seven  miles  distant,  at  daylight,  Sunday  morning,  May  8. 
The  enemy  held  Laurel  Hill  a  position  about  half  way  between 
Todd's  Tavern  and  Spottsylvania,  and  before  which  the  Iron  Brigade 
arrived  at  8  o'clock.  While  some  of  the  Brigade  was  preparing  coffee, 
the  Brigade  was  ordered  into  line,  the  men  drinking  their  coffee  on 


GRANT'S  CAMPAIGN — 1864. 


239 


the  run.  Forming  under  fire  of  the  enemy's  artillery,  they  advanced 
to  the  assault  of  the  enemy's  intrenchments  on  Laurel  Hill.  The 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  was  in  the  center  of  the  Iron  Brigade  and 
the  Second  and  Seventh  Wisconsin  on  its  flanks.  After  a  severe 
contest  they  had  to  fall  back  to  the  edge  of  the  woods  where  they 
reformed  and  again  advanced,  driving  the  enemy  over  the  ground 
where  they  had  just  fought.  Taking  a  strong  position  300  yards  from 
the  enemy  they  fortified  it  with  earthworks.  Several  times  the 


TODD'S  TAVERN. 

enemy  charged  upon  these  works  but  were  repulsed  each  time.  In 
this  position  they  spent  the  night.  In  losses  the  Twenty-fourth  had 
suffered  some  but  not  severely,  but  the  losses  in  the  rest  of  the  army 
were  great.  Two  of  our  boys  in  Battery  B  were  killed,  William  Irving 
of  Land  Isaac  L.  Vandecar  of  K. 

[One  of  the  touching  incidents  of  this  slaughter  was  the  death  of  Isaac 
Vandecar  from  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan.  For  some  time  he  had  taken  care  of 
"Old  Tartar"  (Old  "Bob-tail"),  who  was  always  esteemed  one  of  the  most  important 
and  meritorious  "comrades  "in  the  Battery.  Ike  was  serving  on  one  of  the  guns 
and  an  exploding  case  shot  literally  made  a  sieve  of  him — no  less  than  four  missiles 
hitting  the  poor  boy.  He  was  struck  in  the  face,  breast,  abdomen  and  groin  by  shot. 
Captain  Stewart  said  to  him,  "Van,  my  poor  boy,  what  can  I  do  for  you?"  "Nothing," 
replied  Ike,  with  perfect  composure,  "I  know  I  must  die,  and  I  want  you  to  see  that 
"Old  Tartar"  has  good  care  after  I  am  gone." — From  the  Cannoneer.] 

Monday,  May  9.  The  Iron  Brigade  early  made  additions  to  their 
works  and  an  abatis  in  front.  There  was  active  picket  firing  during 
the  day,  one  shot  killing  General  Sedgwick.  Lieutenant-Colonel  W. 
W.  Wight  having  gone  to  the  hospital,  the  command  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  devolved  upon  Major  A.  M.  Edwards.  In  the  evening 
the  enemy  advanced,  driving  in  the  pickets  of  the  Iron  Brigade,  and 
established  a  body  of  their  skirmishers  in  a  thick  wood  but  fifty 
yards  from  our  breastworks,  but  a  volunteer  party  from  the  Seventh 

(16) 


240 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


Wisconsin  and  a  detail  from  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  drove 
them  back. 

Tuesday,  May  10.  Skirmishers  were  pushed  forward  at  noon 
through  thick  woods  to  develop  the  character  of  the  enemy's  position, 
followed  by  the  Iron  Brigade.  The  enemy's  skirmishers  were  forced 
back  into  their  works,  and  our  men  got  up  near  enough  to  learn  that 
Lee  had  strengthened  his  lines  with  heavy  artillery  throughout,  and 
had  a  flank  fire  along  his  lines,  his  works  being  concealed  in  great 
part  by  dense  woods.  At  4  r.  M.  his  position  was  assaulted  by 
Crawford's  and  Cutler's  Divisions.  The  forest  of  dead  pine  and 
cedar  trees  with  hard,  sharp-pointed  branches  made  it  very  difficult  for 
our  troops  to  advance  under  the  heavy  artillery  and  musketry  fire 
which  they  met  at  the  outset. 

Moving  forward  into  the  open  ground  near  the  enemy's  works 
with  disordered  ranks,  in  face  of  the  terrible  enfilading  fire,  they 
pressed  on,  some  to  the  abatis,  others  of  the  Seventh  Wisconsin  to 
the  very  crest  of  their  parapet,  but  such  as  survived  were  driven  back 
with  heavy  loss.  In  this  attack,  Cutler's  Division  was  formed  in  three 
lines,  the  Iron  Brigade  being  in  the  third  line.  The  enemy  broke  the 
first  line  and  sent  them  over  the  left  wing  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
Michigan  which  broke  and  ran  for  their  works,  but  immediately 
reformed  and  joined  the  regiment.  General  Rice,  commanding  the 
Second  Brigade  of  this  division  was  mortally  wounded.  The  assault 


RON   BRIGADE   CHARGING    UPON   LAUREL  HILL. 


GRANT'S  CAMPAIGN — 1864.  241 

was  a  failure  and  our  troops  returned  to  their  works  for  a  more 
desperate  struggle  toward  evening.  At  7  o'clock  P.  M.,  the  Second 
and  part  of  the  Fifth  Corps  moved  to  the  attack.  Our  troops 
struggled  up  the  slopes  of  Laurel  Hill  in  face  of  a  deadly  storm  of 
missiles,  and  even  penetrated  the  enemy's  breastworks,  but  this 
charge  too,  proved  a  failure,  and  our  forces  retired  behind  their 
earthworks  for  the  night,  after  a  hard  day  of  fighting. 

Wednesday,  May  11.  Though  the  dead  and  wounded  of  both 
armies  lay  in  thousands  on  the  field,  at  8  o'clock  this  morning,  General 
Grant  sent  his  characteristic  dispatch  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  saying: 
"  I  propose  to  fight  it  out  on  this  line  if  it  takes  all  summer,"  and  the 
day  was  spent  in  preparations  for  another  battle.  During  the  day, 
the  Second  Wisconsin  having  become  reduced  to  less  than  100  men 
without  field  officers,  it  was  detailed  as  provost  guard  of  the  Fourth 
Division  to  serve  out  its  term  and  was  no  longer  a  part  of  the  Iron 
Brigade.  This  simple  statement  of  its  reduced  numbers  by  battle 
and  service  losses  speaks  more  pointedly  the  praise  of  this  noble 
Second  Wisconsin  than  any  language  we  can  employ.  To-day  Major 
Edwards  with  seventy-five  men  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  was 
detailed  to  form  an  abatis  in  front.  At  sunset  a  heavy  rainstorm 
came  up,  the  first  since  the  army  crossed  the  Rapidan  and  the  men 
were  without  shelter.  At  dark  Hancock  was  ordered  to  move  his 
corps  around  to  the  left  between  Wright  and  Burnside  and  assault  at 
daylight.  Warren  was  ordered  to  hold  both  his  own  position  and  the 
one  Hancock  left. 

Thursday,  May  12.  At  4:30  this  morning,  Warren's  Corps 
opened  with  all  its  artillery  on  the  enemy  in  his  front,  and  their 
skirmish  line  was  pushed  in.  About  10  o'clock,  the  Iron  Brigade  and 
its  Corps  charged  upon  Laurel  Hill  for  the  fourth  time,  but  failed  to 
carry  the  enemy's  works,  the  losses  being  heavy  on  both  sides.  The 
brush  was  thick  and  the  marsh  hay  catching  fire,  burned  some  of  our 
wounded  not  twenty  feet  from  the  works  of  the  enemy. 

THE   SALIENT   OR   BLOODY   ANGLE. 

At  4:30  o'clock  on  this  same  morning,  May  12,  while  Warren's 
guns  were  playing  upon  the  enemy  in  his  front,  Hancock's  Second 
Corps  troops  dashed  noiselessly  through  the  Confederate  abatis  towards 
the  salient  of  an  earthwork,  north  of  the  Brock  Road  and  nearly  north 
of  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  held  by  the  enemy  under  Generals 
Johnson  and  Stewart.  Then  with  loud  cheers  they  dashed  over  into 


242  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

their  works;  a  desperate  hand  to  hand  conflict  with  the  enemy  was 
had,  but  the  Salient  was  taken  with  those  two  generals,  4,000  troops, 
30  pieces  of  artillery,  30  stands  of  colors,  and  several  thousand  small 
arms.  General  Hancock  had  been  an  old  army  friend  of  General 
Stewart  and  offered  the  latter  his  hand,  but  the  haughty  Southron 
refused  it  saying:  "I  decline,  sir,  under  the  circumstances  to  take 
your  hand."  Hancock  instantly  replied:  "And  only  when  you  are 
my  prisoner,  sir,  would  I  offer  you  my  hand." 

This  was  a  well  planned,  brilliant  dash  and,  in  fact,  about  the 
only  victory  won  over  the  enemy  aside  from  gradually  wearing  them 
out,  that  our  army  had  obtained  since  crossing  the  Rapidan,  and  the 
news  of  it  greatly  elated  all  our  forces.  However,  the  ground  gained 
was  not  long  held.  The  movement  was  made  in  a  severe  rainstorm 
and  the  enemy  amid  the  smoke  and  rain  instantly  pushed  large  bodies 
of  troops  forward  to  regain  the  ground  at  all  hazards.  They  made  a 
sudden  charge  and  reoccupied  the  Salient.  Hancock's  troops  were 
forced  over  the  breastworks  which  they  then  also  used  as  breastworks 
outside  the  Salient. 

In  this  narrow  space  of  the  Salient  or  Angle,  captured  before 
dawn  and  recaptured  by  the  enemy,  raged  the  fiercest  battle  of  the 
war,  so  affirmed  by  both  Union  and  Confederate  authorities.  It  was 
the  bloodiest  spot  in  any  battle  since  the  use  of  gunpowder  in  war. 
In  rear  of  the  Salient  breastworks,  the  enemy  had  completed  a  second 
line.  On  both  sides  of  the  Salient-breastworks  and  to  the  right  and 
left  of  the  Salient,  the  battle  raged  fiercely  till  far  into  the  night. 
The  Confederate  dead  were  piled  up  several  deep.  It  was  known  as 
the  "Angle  of  Death."  Five  times  Lee's  troops  dashed  against  his 
side  of  the  Salient  to  drive  away  the  Union  forces.  The  fighting  was 
from  hand  to  hand  over  the  breastworks  and  the  flags  of  both  were 
frequently  planted  on  their  top  but  a  few  feet  apart,  till  the  bearers 
were  shot  down  and  they  were  rehoisted  by  others. 

At  2  o'clock  P.  M.,  Cutler's  Division  moved  around  to  the  left 
about  three  miles  to  help  Hancock,  as  the  enemy  was  determined  to 
retain  the  Salient  at  any  cost.  The  skirmishers  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
Michigan  were  left  on  picket  for  an  hour  and  then  rejoined  the 
regiment.  At  3  o'clock,  the  Iron  Brigade  formed  on  an  elevation  to 
the  rear  of  Hancock's  Corps.  The  Seventh  Wisconsin  relieved  some 
of  his  troops  who  occupied  the  enemy's  first  line  of  intrenchments 
gained  in  the  early  morning  attack  and  one  side  of  the  Salient- 
breastworks,  while  the  enemy  held  their  second  line  at  the  Salient. 
During  the  whole  afternoon  and  night  the  Union  troops  kept  up  a 


GRANT'S  CAMPAIGN — 1864. 


243 


constant  fire  in  one  place  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  removing  and 
using  eighteen  pieces  of  his  artillery  parked  under  and  near  a  large 
oak  tree  which  stood  just  inside  the  Confederate  intrenchments  within 
the  Salient  between  his  lines.  The  Seventh  Wisconsin  did  duty  there 
till  dark  when  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  and  Sixth  Wisconsin  were 
sent  down  to  take  their  places  directly  in  front  of  that  tree  and  the 
Salient,  the  left  of  the  Twenty-fourth  being  about  fifty  feet  from  the 
enemy's  works.  The  Twenty-fourth  had  instructions  to  fire  on  each 
side  of  that  oak  tree  to  prevent  the  enemy's  guns  there  from  being 


TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN   AND  SIXTH  WISCONSIN  AT  THE  SALIENT. 

removed.  The  night  was  very  dark  and  the  flash  of  the  enemy's 
muskets  over  their  second  line  showed  their  line  of  earthworks  at  the 
Salient,  and  the  oak  tree  was  used  as  a  guide  to  fire  by. 

Standing  in  deep  mud  and  keeping  up  a  constant  fire  for  hours 
and  till  after  midnight,  the  men's  muskets  became  so  foul  that  details 
were  made  to  clean  the  guns  while  their  comrades  kept  up  the  fire. 
The  men  were  so  weary  (having  been  under  fire  night  and  day  for  a 
week),  that  some  lay  down  in  the  mud  under  the  enemy's  fire  and 
slept  soundly  amid  the  thunders  of  battle,  despite  all  efforts  to  arouse 
them.  During  the  night  the  remnant  of  the  Twenty-fourth  used  up 
5,000  rounds  of  cartridges  at  this  spot.  Lossing  says: 

Probably  there  never  was  a  battle  in  which  so  many  bullets  flew  in  a  given 
space  of  time  and  distance.  Two  years  afterward  full  one-half  of  the  trees  of  the 
wood,  at  a  point  where  the  fiercest  struggle  ensued  within  the  Salient  of  the 
Confederate  works,  were  dead. 


244  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

The  fighting  at  the  Salient  was  continued  till  midnight  when, 
after  a  contest  of  twenty  hours,  Lee  gave  it  up  and  withdrew  from  the 
place  altogether.  In  the  War  Department  at  Washington  is  the 
section  of  the  trunk  of  the  large  oak  tree,  referred  to  above,  which 
stood  inside  the  Confederate  Salient  and  under  which  were  the 
Confederate  batteries,  which  the  constant  musketry  firing  prevented 
them  from  getting  and  using.  The  section  of  the  tree  is  five  feet  six 
inches  in  height  and  twenty-one  inches  in  diameter,  and  had  been 
finally  cut  off  by  the  Union  bullets  fired  that  night 
from  guns  in  the  hands  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
Michigan  and  Sixth  Wisconsin.  This  section  of 
said  tree  was  on  exhibition  at  the  Centennial,  and 
a  picture  of  it  is  here  given.  Several  eastern 
regiments  are  claimed  in  the  "CENTURY"  to  have 
shot  this  tree  off,  Second  Corps  regiments  of 
course.  They  undoubtedly  helped ;  but  it  is  a 
historical  fact  that  the  tree  fell  about  midnight 
after  several  hours  of  shooting  at  it  by  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  and  Sixth  Wisconsin. 
These  two  regiments  stood  nearest  to  it,  fired  at  it 
longest,  and  were  shooting  away  at  it  when  it  fell. 
SYLYANIAFIELD  °F  8P°TT"  Tm's  is  the  true  account  of  that  battle-field  relic- 
But  all  the  regiments  which  fired  at  it  that  day  and  night  should  share 
whatever  honor  attaches  to  this  feat. 

Friday,  May  13.  During  the  night  Major  Edwards,  commanding 
the  regiment,  became  tired  and  sat  down  to  rest  on  what  he  supposed 
was  a  log,  but  it  proved  to  be  a  dead  man.  At  daylight  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  moved  up  and  found  only  one  unharmed 
Confederate  in  the  works,  the  rest  having  quietly  left  in  the  night. 
The  Second  corps  men  lay  thick  on  the  ground,  riddled  with  bullets. 
Over  in  the  Salient  was  the  most  awful  sight  ever  witnessed  on  a 
battlefield — dead  Confederates  lay  several  deep,  in  all  shapes  as  they 
fell  —  some  piled  up  for  breastworks  to  protect  those  still  living.  The 
trench  by  the  Salient  breastwork  was  filled  with  dead  men  and  the 
burial  party  never  removed  them  but  turned  the  breastworks  over 
upon  them  for  a  covering — thus  they  actually  died  in  their  graves. 

The  Twenty-fourth  moved  a  short  distance  to  the  right  and 
joined  the  rest  of  the  Iron  Brigade.  After  dark  it  went  on  picket 
though  up  all  the  night  before.  It  remained  out  till  nearly  midnight 
when  moving  orders  came,  which  proved  to  be  another  left  flank 
affair. 


GRANT'S  CAMPAIGN — 1864. 


245 


SPOTTSYLVANIA   COURT   HOUSE. 


Soon  after  midnight  on  the  morning  of  May  14,  the  Fifth  Corps 
was  on  the  march  which  was  kept  up  till  morning.  It  went  via 
Shelton's,  Landrum's  and  thence  by  a  farm  road  to  the  Ny  River 


FIELD   OP   SPOTTSYLVANIA. 


which  it  forded.  The  column  then  moved  across  the  country  through 
fields  to  the  Fredericksburg  and  Spottsylvania  Court  House  road, 
along  which  it  advanced,  and  re-crossed  the  Ny  waist  deep,  and 
formed  on  the  left  of  Burnside's  Corps.  This  circuitous  night  march 
was  only  eight  miles  but  very  fatiguing.  It  was  rainy  and  the 
darkness  intense.  Fires  were  built  along  the  route  but  the  rain  and 
mist  extinguished  them.  The  mud  was  deep  and  the  march  slow; 
yet  men  lost  their  way  and  lay  down  exhausted  until  daylight  enabled 
them  to  go  on.  Only  forty-six  men  were  up  with  the  regiment  when 
it  halted  at  daylight,  but  the  rest  came  up  during  the  day. 


246 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


The  Iron  Brigade  was  now  about  half  a  mile  northeast  of 
Spottsylvania  Court  House  in  the  first  line  of  battle  with  its  corps 
the  left  of  the  Brigade  resting  on  the  Fredericksburg  Turnpike. 
This  Corps  had  been  ordered  to  attack  at  6  A.  M.  but  it  was  so 
scattered  that  the  attack  was  deferred.  The  armies  intrenched,  and 
faced  each  other  for  a  week,  each  seeking  an  opportunity  to  gain  some 
advantage. 

Early  on  May  18,  a  fierce  artillery  duel  took  place,  followed  by 
an  assault  of  the  Second  and  Sixth  Corps,  which  was  repulsed.  In 
the  evening  the  enemy  attacked  and  were  in  turn  severely  repulsed. 
This  is  often  the  fate  of  the  attacking  party  on  either  side.  It  suffers 
the  most.  The  Union  losses  on  the  battlefield  of  Spottsylvania  were 
15,722  killed  and  wounded  and  2001  missing  and  prisoners,  a  total 
Union  loss  of  full  33,000  since  crossing  the  Rapidan  only  eight  days 
before. 


CASUALTIES  OF  THE  TWENTY-FOURTH  MICHIGAN   AT  LAUREL  HILL 

KILLED  OR  MORTALLY    WOUNDED. 


On  May  8,  1864. 
William  Irving  (in  Battery),  I. 
Isaac  L.  Vandecar  (in  Battery),  K. 
John  H.  Fryer,  K. 

On  May  10,  1864. 

Corp.  John  T.  Paris,  leg  ampt'd,  G. 
Reuben  Cory,  D. 
Horace  Rofe,  D. 
Andrew  J.  Marden,  G. 
Charles  A.  Wilson,  G. 
John  Matrie,  I. 

On  May  12,  1864. 

Sergt.  John  M.  Reed,  leg  ampt'd,  B. 
"       William  Floyd,  E. 

On  May  8,   1864. 

Sergt.  George  R.  Welsh,  leg,  C. 
Corp.  Wm.  D.  Lyon,  thigh,  K. 
Peter  Batway  (Battery),  G. 
John  Orth  (Battery),  D. 
Peter  Vermiller  (R.),  A. 
Orson  Westfall,  shoulder,  C. 
John  Danbert,  D. 
John  R.  Brown,  hand,  K. 
Elijah  Little,  hand,  K. 

On  May  9,   1864. 
Frank  Brennon,  arm,  A. 


On  May  12,  1864. 
Corp.  George  P.  Hubbell,  C. 

"       Michael  O'Brien,  D. 
Albert  A.  Wallace,  D. 

"       James  T.  Rupert,  K. 
Philip  Blissing,  with  enemy,  . 
William  Lawrence  (R),  B, 
Lorenz  Raiser,  D. 
Patrick  J.  Kinney,  E. 
Frederick  Chavey,  F. 
George  A.  Neef,  F. 
Henry  Coonrad,  I. 
August  Lahser,  I. 


WOUNDED. 


Err  Cady,  foot,   B. 
William  W.  Coon,  face,  I. 

On  May  10,  1864. 
Sergt.  Jacob  M.  Van  Riper,   K. 
Corp.  Alexander  Purdy,  D. 
John  Passage,  jr.,  hand,  C. 
Ralph  G.  Terry,  arm,  C. 
William  T.  Nowland,  arm,  D. 
Henry  Bedford  (R.),  G. 
William  Weiner,  hand,  G. 
Artemas  Hosmer,  head,   K. 


GRANT'S  CAMPAIGN — 1864.  247 

On  May  n,  1864.  Amos  Abbott,  arm,   D 

John  Frank,  hand,  E.  Ludovico  Bowles,  D. 

Hugh  Murphy,  leg,  E.  Merritt  B.  Heath,  D. 

A.  Brutus  Heig  (R.),  D. 

On  May  12,  1864.  William  Jackson,  D. 

Capt.  GEORGE  W.  BURCHELL,  B.  Christopher  Mayhew  (R.),  D. 

Sergt.  Robert  Gibbons,  arm,  B.  John  Stangc,  D. 

"       Shep.  L.  Howard,  hand,  D.  Cornelius  Crimmins,  E. 

Corp.   Roswell  L.  Root,  C.  William  R.  Shier,  F. 

"       Walter  Morley,  D.  Joseph  Jamieson  (R.),  F. 

Charles  Fellrath,  leg,  A.  Daniel  Donahue  (R.),  I. 

The  following  casualties  occurred  near  Spottsylvania  Court  House : 

May  13.     James  F.  Clegg,  wounded  in  shoulder,   H. 
May  14.     First  Lieutenant  MICHAEL  DEMPSEY,  wounded,  A. 
May  17.     Sergt.  Arthur  G.  Lynch,  leg  amputated  and  died,  B. 
There  were  no  casualties  at  the  Salient,  in  the  regiment.     The  enemy  fired  over 
the  heads  of  our  men,  or  in  another  direction. 

Summary:  —  Died  on  the  battle-field,  24;  wounded,  41  ;  total,  65. 


INCIDENTS  —  RECRUITS — MARCH    TO   NORTH   ANNA. 

This  is  but  a  tale  of  blood.  Within  two  weeks  after  the  regiment 
started  on  this  campaign,  its  fighting  force  had  been  reduced  from  320 
to  149,  from  battle  casualties.  The  beautiful  flag  which  the  people  of 
Detroit  presented  to  it  three  weeks  before,  was  now  tattered  and 
riddled  with  bullets.  One  of  the  new  color  guard  had  been  killed 
and  three  wounded. 

Just  before  the  regiment  started  from  near  Culpepper  upon  this 
campaign,  the  men  discussed  their  chances  in  the  battles  which  they 
knew  were  before  them.  Two  comrades,  Arthur  G.  Lynch  and  John 
M.  Reed,  of  B,  declared  they  would  rather  be  killed  than  to  lose  a 
leg  and  have  to  hobble  around  for  life.  Laughingly,  each  agreed  to 
kill  the  other,  should  he  lose  a  leg.  Both  of  them,  within  two  weeks, 
had  been  in  battle,  both  were  wounded,  both  lost  a  leg,  and  both  were 
dead! 

On  May  19,  the  regimental  band  returned  and  was  disbanded  the 
next  day,  the  members  returning  to  their  companies.  May  20  was 
occupied  by  the  regiment  in  building  a  strong  abatis  in  their  front. 

Though  there  was  some  cannonading  at  intervals,  as  well  as  one 
or  two  unsuccessful  attacks  of  the  enemy.  The  week  following  the 
fighting  about  Spottsylvania  was  comparatively  quiet,  affording 
opportunity  for  burying  the  dead  and  removing  the  wounded  to 
hospitals.  The  houses  and  streets  of  Fredericksburg  were  but  a  vast 


248  HISTORY  OF   THE  TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN. 

hospital  for  Union  wounded,  and  all  the  way  from  the  murmuring  rills 
in  the  Wilderness  could  be  seen,  here  and  there,  freshly  heaped  piles 
of  earth  where  soldiers  were  resting  from  all  strife. 

At  the  same  time,  the  losses  in  Grant's  army  were  made  good  by 
25,000  veteran  recruits  and  30.000  "hundred  day"  men.  The 
fortifications  around  Washington  were  stripped  of  troops  who  had  for 
two  years  done  nothing  but  garrison  duty.  These  were  sent  to  the 
front  and  Invalid  Corps  men  put  in  their  places.  Thus  strengthened, 
Grant  resumed  his  "left  flank  movement."  Lee,  divining  the  next 
move,  took  up  his  line  of  march  for  the  North  Anna,  twenty-three  miles 
distant,  and  went  into  some  intrenchments  previously  constructed 
on  the  south  side  of  the  river.  The  rival  armies  moved  southward 
by  parallel  roads  without  annoying  each  other.  The  country  was 
fertile  and  beautiful,  abounding  in  rich  plantations  free  heretofore 
from  the  ravages  of  war.  The  houses  were  grandly  surrounded  with 
ancestral  elms  dating  far  back  into  colonial  days. 

Saturday,  May  21.  At  I  o'clock  P.  M.  the  regiment  with  the 
Iron  Brigade  moved  out  of  its  works  in  front  of  Spottsylvania  Court 
House,  crossed  the  Ny  and  took  a  south-easterly  course  down  the 
north  side  of  that  stream  some  distance  and  then  across  to  Guinea's 
Station  on  the  Fredericksburg  &  Richmond  Railroad;  thence  south 
on  the  track  one  mile;  then  west  about  a  mile  where  they  bivouacked. 

Sunday,  May  22.  Moving  with  the  Iron  Brigade  at  4  A.  M.  while 
the  rest  of  the  Corps  was  sleeping,  the  Twenty-fourth  crossed  the 
river  at  Guinea's  Bridge  below  the  junction  of  the  Po  and  Ny,  and 
marched  three  miles  due  west  to  Madison's  Store  on  the  road  from 
Spottsylvania,  arriving  there  about  four  hours  after  the  enemy  had 
passed,  and  threw  up  earthworks  across  the  road  at  I  P.  M.  During 
their  construction,  Grant,  Meade  and  several  other  Generals  came  up. 
Here  the  Iron  Brigade  remained  as  guard  until  the  Fifth  Corps,  led 
by  the  Sixteenth  Michigan,  passed  with  its  trains.  The  Brigade  then 
followed  in  the  rear,  moving  west  by  Madison's  Ordinary  to  the 
Telegraph  Road;  thence  across  the  Ta  at  Thornburg  and  on  south  to 
Nancy  Wright's;  thence  east  towards  Milford  Bridge  on  the 
Mattapony,  some  distance  and  halted  at  sunset  for  the  night,  at 
Bethel  Church,  near  the  Mattapony  River.  Early  the  next  morning, 
the  Twenty-fourth  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  W.  W.  Wight  started 
westerly  and  soon  struck  the  Telegraph  Road  and  followed  it  below 
Bethany  Church,  then  turned  back  as  it  was  on  the  wrong  road,  and 
took  a  road  southeast  from  the  church,  leading  to  Jericho  Mills  on 


"       •       - 

»»       1*7      ..      ^Vlt^r-nj^Jf 


ROUTE  OF   IRON'i'BRIGADE  FROM  SPOTTSYLVANIA  TO    NORTH    ANNA. 


250  HISTORY  OF   THE  TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

the  North  Anna,  the  Iron  Brigade  arriving  there  only  one  hour  behind 
the  enemy.  On  the  way  an  old  darkie  told  them:  "De  udder  fellows 
right  ahead  of  you — you'll  catch  up  wid  'em." 

BATTLE   OF   NORTH   ANNA. 

The  banks  of  the  North  Anna  are  very-  precipitous  here  and  the 
bed  rocky,  very  high  bluffs  skirting  the  south  shore.  Bartlett's 
Brigade  at  the  head  of  Warren's  Corps  boldly  waded  the  stream, 
armpit  deep,  and  covered  the  construction  of  the  pontoon  bridge. 
About  4  P.  M.,  of  May  23,  the  divisions  of  Cutler  and  Crawford  and 
the  balance  of  Griffin's  crossed  the  river  to  the  south  side.  After  the 
Iron  Brigade  crossed  the  stream,  they  wound  up  the  steep  bank  and 
formed  on  a  plateau  of  cleared  fields  about  a  mile  square.  There  were 
woods  on  the  west  and  south  and  the  river  wound  about  the  north  and 
east  of  the  field.  Halting  a  short  distance  from  the  river  the  men 
stacked  arms  and  commenced  preparations  for  supper.  Down  in  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  woods,  some  troops  were  observed  moving 
about  and  were  at  first  supposed  to  be  our  own  men,  but  the  error 
was  soon  discovered  by  the  commanding  officer,  and  the  Division 
ordered  to  fall  in  at  once. 

They  moved  before  the  men  had  time  to  drink  their  coffee  or  eat 
their  hardtack.  Some  of  the  men  carried  their  coffee  pails  on  sticks, 
others  carried  frying  pans  containing  their  partly  cooked  pork,  just  as 
they  had  snatched  them  from  the  fire.  The  line  of  march  was  towards 
the  southwest  corner  of  the  woods.  Crawford  had  formed  his  Division 
with  its  left  resting  on  the  river  —  and  Griffin  next.  These  two 
Divisions  had  advanced  a  short  distance  in  the  woods  and  halted, 
when  Cutler  was  ordered  to  form  his  Division  on  the  right  of  Griffin, 
continuing  the  line  in  a  westerly  direction. 

The  Iron  Brigade  led  the  advance  of  the  Division  and  when  the 
left  had  passed  Griffin's  right,  line  of  battle  was  formed  and  the  Iron 
Brigade  pushed  into  the  woods  about  two  rods  when  they  were  halted 
to  allow  the  balance  of  the  Division  to  form  on  the  right.  In  the 
formation  of  the  Brigade,  the  Sixth  and  Seventh  Wisconsin  were  on 
the  left,  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  in  the  centre  and  the  rest  on  the 
right.  Before  the  balance  of  the  Division  could  be  put  in  position  the 
enemy  attacked  both  the  front  and  flank  of  the  Iron  Brigade. 

This  sudden  onset  of  the  enemy  on  the  flank  of  the  Brigade  broke 
the  right  and  compelled  it  to  fall  back  in  some  disorder,  hotly  pursued 
by  the  enemy.  At  the  time  of  the  attack  Bragg's  Brigade  was  passing 


GRANT'S  CAMPAIGN — 1864.  251 

in  the  rear  of  the  Iron  Brigade  to  take  position  further  to  the  right, 
but  on  the  recoil  of  the  Brigade,  Bragg's  and  the  balance  of  the 
Division  went  to  the  rear. 

Suddenly  from  the  left  came  a  rifled  battery  of  four  guns,  followed 
by  another  battery  a  short  distance  in  the  rear.  The  first  one  swung 
into  position  and  opened  fire  on  the  enemy  that  had  flanked  the 
Brigade  and  were  now  in  the  open  field  not  six  hundred  feet  away. 
The  second  battery  opened  on  the  enemy  in  the  woods  farther  to  the 
left.  At  this  juncture,  Captain  Wood,  the  Assistant  Adjutant-General 
of  the  Iron  Brigade,  together  with  Captain  W.  R.  Dodsley, 
Lieutenants  E.  B.  Welton  and  George  A.  Ross,  Sergeants  C.  H.  Chope 
and  Robert  E.  Bolger  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  rallied  about 
fifty  men  of  the  Iron  Brigade,  mostly  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan, 
and  forming  on  the  right  of  the  battery,  assisted  in  driving  back 
the  enemy  from  the  field  in  as  much  disorder  as  they  had  driven 
Cutler's  Division  a  few  moments  before.  The  other  two  Divisions  had 
been  attacked  at  the  same  time  as  Cutler's,  but  held  their  ground,  and 
•after  a  sharp  contest,  the  enemy  were  repulsed  all  along  the  line. 
About  1,000  of  the  enemy  were  made  prisoners.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
W.  W.  Wight  was  in  command  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  dur 
ing  this  fight,  and  conducted  himself  with  his  usual  gallantry. 

The  prisoners  captured  on  the  right  declared  that  the  rapid 
retreat  of  the  Iron  Brigade  was  a  "Yankee"  trick  to  draw  them  under 
the  fire  of  our  batteries.  During  this  campaign  it  seemed  to  be  the 
misfortune  or  hard  luck  of  the  Iron  Brigade  never  to  have  its  flanks 
properly  protected.  In  this  case,  the  right  flank  was  "  in  air."  There 
were  not  even  skirmishers  on  the  flank  to  give  warning  of  the  near 
approach  of  the  enemy. 

General  Meade  issued  an  order  complimenting  the  troops  engaged 
in  the  repulse  of  the  enemy.  After  the  failure  of  the  enemy  to  drive 
our  men  into  the  river  as  they  expected,  the  Union  lines  were 
reformed  in  about  the  same  position  as  before  the  attack  and  strongly 
intrenched  before  night. 

On  Tuesday  morning,  May  24,  the  Iron  Brigade  moved  out 
towards  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad  near  Noel's  Station  and  built 
new  works.  During  the  afternoon  numerous  prisoners  from  the  enemy 
came  into  camp.  On  Wednesday  morning,  the  25th,  the  Iron  Brigade 
left  its  new  works  at  4  o'clock  and  moved  back  to  its  Division  which 
moved  down  the  south  bank  of  the  North  Anna,  halted  and  formed  in 
line  on  the  center.  After  driving  the  enemy's  skirmishers  back  half  a 


252  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

mile  to  their  works,  the  Division  built  a  good  line  of  works  in  the 
woods  and  rested  for  the  night.  On  Thursday  morning,  May  26, 
breakfast  and  spades  came  before  daylight.  A  heavy  rainstorm  came 
up  which  lasted  all  day,  driving  the  men  from  their  works,  in  which 
the  water  was  knee  deep.  Excessive  firing  was  kept  up  all  the  time 
by  the  enemy.  During  the  day  a  woman  was  captured  dressed  as  a 
Confederate  soldier. 

The  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  now  in  great  peril.  Its  wings 
were  separated  by  the  enemy  on  one  side  of  a  stream  difficult  to  cross, 
and  liable  to  a  sudden  increase  by  rains.  The  enemy's  flanks  were 
thrown  back  to  allow  such  a  Union  position,  while  his  center 
powerfully  menaced  Grant's  center  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  stream. 
It  was  a  grand  opportunity  for  Lee,  being  on  the  inner  lines,  first  to 
strike  one  of  the  Union  flanks  and  then  assail  the  other.  But  Grant  at 
once  resolved  to  get  his  army  out  of  this  perilous  position,  and  at  dark 
re-crossed  his  forces  to  the  north  side  of  the  North  Anna,  earth 
having  been  spread  over  the  pontoons  to  prevent  discovery  by  the 
enemy. 

There  had  been  fighting  by  the  other  Corps  but  the  scope  of  our 
work  forbids  a  recital  of  every  field  movement.  The  following  were 
the  losses  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  at  the  battle  of  North  Anna 
(or  Jericho  Ford)  from  May  23  to  26,  1864: 

KILLED.  MORTALLY    WOUNDED  : 

Elisha  Wheeler,  of  B,  on  May  23.  Corporal  Evan  B.  McClure,  of  K,  May  23. 

WOUNDED. 

On  May  23.  Mathew  Myers,  H. 

Richard  Ladore,  B.  On  May  25. 

Calvin  Maxfield,  C.  Corporal  John  Moody,  arm  amputated,  D. 

Wm.  A.  Ringgold  (R)  E.  Aldrich  Townsend,  D. 

John  J.  Larkins,  H.  Charles  E.  Jenner,  F. 

CAPTURED. 
On  May  23. 

Corporal  Frederick  Woods,  E.  Sergeant  Richard  A.  Riley,  H. 

Robert  Gaunt,  E.  Corporal  Marshall  Bills,  H. 

Summary : — Killed  and  died  of  wounds,  2;  wounded,  8;  prisoners,  4.     Total,  14. 

FIGHTING   AT   TOLOPOTOMOY   (FIELD   OF   COLD    HARBOR). 

Grant's  withdrawal  across  the  North  Anna,  secretly  begun  on  the 
night  of  May  26,  was  successfully  accomplished  and  his  army  was 
headed  eastward  and  southward  to  cross  the  Pamunky  which  is 
formed  by  the  confluence  of  the  North  and  South  Anna.  His  new 


GRANT'S  CAMPAIGN — 1864.  253 

turning  movement  was  met  by  a  corresponding  retrograde  movement 
by  Lee,  who,  not  having  half  the  distance  to  march,  had  his  army 
well  intrenched  on  the  south  side  of  that  stream  before  Grant's  arrival. 

After  re-crossing  the  North  Anna,  Thursday  night,  the  Twenty- 
fourth  with  the  Iron  Brigade  found  itself  at  daylight  near  Bethany 
Church  after  an  all  night's  march.  On  Friday  the  2/th,  rations  were 
issued  before  daylight  and  the  column  started  south-eastward  for 
Hanover  Town,  distant  33  miles.  Showers  had  laid  the  dust  and  the 
marching  was  good.  After  a  march  of  twenty  miles,  a  halt  was  made 
for  the  night  at  Magnolia  Church.  On  Saturday  the  28th,  the  Iron 
Brigade  moved  at  5  A.  M.  and  crossed  the  Pamunky  on  pontoons  at 
Dabney's  Ferry,  before  midday,  and  moving  forward  to  Hanover 
Town  about  a  mile,  threw  up  breastworks  which  they  occupied  during 
the  passage  of  the  river  by  the  army.  The  Twenty-fourth  then 
moved  in  rear  of  the  Sixteenth  Michigan  to  let  Battery  B  have  its 
position. 

The  Confederates  had  posted  themselves  south  of  the 
Tolopotomoy,  a  creek  running  nearly  east  and  emptying  into  the 
Pamunky  on  its  south  side,  two  miles  below  Hanover  Town.  Each 
corps  was  ordered  on  Sunday  morning,  May  29,  to  make  a 
reconnoissance  in  the  front,  Warren's  Corps  by  the  Shady  Grove  road. 
Griffin's  Division  led  and  soon  found  the  enemy.  Cutler's  Division 
followed  and  then  Crawford's.  The  enemy's  infantry  and  skirmishers 
fell  back,  Griffin's  following  them  until  they  entered  a  thickly  wooded, 
swampy  ground  formed  by  several  affluents  of  the  Tolopotomoy 
which  here  crossed  the  road.  Opposite  this  swampy  ravine  was 
Huntley's  Corners,  occupied  by  the  enemy  who  made  an  attack  upon 
Griffin's  Division,  which  was  repulsed.  To  support  Griffin,  the  Iron 
Brigade  was  marched,  by  Hawes'  store,  about  three  miles,  part  of  the 
way  on  the  "double-quick."  It  was  stationed  on  the  right  of  that 
Division  and  threw  up  slight  earthworks.  Here  it  bivouacked  all 
night  in  line  of  battle  near  the  grave  of  Patrick  Henry. 

BATTLES    OF   BETHESDA  CHURCH  AND   COLD    HARBOR. 

During  the  afternoon  of  Monday,  May  30,  General  Early 
(Confederate)  moved  his  forces  out  on  Old  Church  Pike  to  Bethesda 
Church  across  Warren's  left.  Crawford's  Division  was  sent  to  look 
after  them  and  Cutler's  Division  (in  which  was  the  Iron  Brigade) 
moved  up  to  the  support  of  Griffin.  The  Iron  Brigade  moved  two 
miles  to  the  front  and  constructed  earthworks  under  a  heavy  shell  fire 


254 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


from  the  enemy's  batteries.  Rhode's  Division  of  Early's  Corps 
moved  up  to  attack  them,  but  Battery  B  (Captain  Stewart)  moved 
out  and  kept  them  at  bay  till  Crawford  was  fully  in  line  on  the  left  of 
Cutler.  Just  before  dark,  Ewell's  forces  made  a  resolute  attack  upon 
the  entire  Fifth  Corps  but  was  repulsed  with  a  loss  of  many  prisoners, 
and  several  high  officers  killed.  At  night  the  enemy  retired  leaving 
his  dead  and  wounded  on  the  field.  After  the  fight  the  Iron  Brigade 
built  a  strong  line  of  works  in  less  than  half  an  hour. 


ROUTE   OF  IRON   BRIGADE   TO   BETHESDA  CHURCH  AND  COLD  HARBOR. 


GRANT'S  CAMPAIGN — 1864.  255 

Tuesday,  May  31,  was  spent  in  burying  the  dead  and  bringing  in 
the  enemy's  wounded.  Just  before  sundown,  the  Twenty-fourth 
Michigan,  under  Major  A.  M.  Edwards,  was  detailed  for  picket  in 
front  of  the  Division,  the  line  being  formed  after  considerable 
difficulty,  by  reason  of  the  density  of  the  forest  and  thick  underbrush. 
During  the  night  sharp  firing  was  indulged  in  at  times  by  the  pickets 
on  both  sides. 

By  another  flank  movement  Grant  planned  to  force  a  passage  of 
the  Chickahominy  near  Cold  Harbor,  and  this  night  moved  the  Sixth 
Corps  (Wright's)  around  to  the  left.  Some  parts  of  the  Tenth  and 
Eighteenth  Corps  had  come  up  from  the  James  River  to  help  our 
army.  They  were  commanded  by  General  Smith. 

On  Wednesday  morning,  June  I,  Lee  having  learned  of  this 
movement  withdrew  Longstreet  on  his  left  who  secured  a  good 
position  behind  Cold  Harbor.  His  withdrawal  was  discovered  by 
Meade  who  sent  Cutler's  Division  and  another  forward  to  attack  him 
about  10  o'clock  A.  M.  They  moved  forward  and  drove  the  enemy 
beyond  the  Mechanicsville  Road.  The  supporting  Division  being 
delayed  by  the  wooded  swamps  of  the  Tolopotomoy  and  Matadequin 
streams,  Cutler's  Division  halted  and  fortified.  The  enemy  shelled 
very  hard  and  attempted  to  drive  our  forces  away  but  failed.  The 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  was  deployed  on  the  skirmish  line  in  front  of 
Cutler.  It  advanced  and  drove  the  enemy's  skirmishers  back  out  of 
the  woods  and  into  their  rifle  pits  but  a  short  distance  in  front  of  their 
earthworks,  and  established  a  skirmish  line  in  a  piece  of  woods  not 
forty  rods  from  their  works.  The  enemy's  earthworks  were  already 
built  for  them,  and  all  they  had  to  do  was  to  march  in  and  occupy 
them.  The  regiment  witnessed  from  this  point  the  movement  of 
large  numbers  of  Lee's  troops  from  his  left  to  his  right,  to  oppose  the 
advance  of  our  troops  on  our  left. 

The  enemy  tried  to  drive  back  the  Twenty-fourth  a  number  of 
times  during  the  day,  but  failed.  Then  they  tried  what  good  their 
artillery  would  do,  but  that  failed.  Each  man  of  the  regiment  was 
protected  by  a  stout  tree  from  which  he  kept  up  an  incessant  fire  on 
the  enemy.  They  forced  back  our  skirmishers  on  the  right  and  left 
but  did  not  move  the  Twenty-fourth.  Late  in  the  afternoon  when 
Major  Edwards  was  told  that  the  men  were  out  of  cartridges,  he  called 
out,  "Then  we  will  hold  these  woods  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet." 

About  10  o'clock  at  night  the  Twenty-fourth  was  ordered  in  and 
found  a  new  skirmish  line  had  been  formed  a  long  distance  in  our 
rear.  It  found  the  Division  about  a  mile  in  the  rear  of  the  advanced 


256  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

position  they  had  occupied  during  the  day.  It  joined  its  Brigade  and 
a  short  time  afterwards  the  Division  moved  forward  more  to  the  left 
of  the  point  which  the  Twenty-fourth  had  held.  It  formed  a  line  of 
battle  and  advanced  to  within  a  few  rods  of  the  edge  of  the  woods  and 
about  three  hundred  yards  from  the  enemy's  line  of  earthworks,  on 
the  other  side  of  the  field  where  the  line  was  established  and  a  good 
line  of  works  built  by  daylight  of  the  2d  of  June.  On  the  left,  during 
the  afternoon  of  the  1st,  there  was  hard  fighting  which  resulted  in 
our  forces  securing  a  firm  grasp  upon  Cold  Harbor. 

The  next  morning,  June  2,  the  Iron  Brigade  and  its  Division 
strongly  intrenched  its  new  line,  south  of  the  Mechanicsville  road  in 
the  vicinity  of  Bethesda  Church.  In  the  afternoon,  Burnside  began 
to  move  to  the  left  and  the  enemy  fiercely  attacked  him,  taking  some 
prisoners.  Then  they  struck  Warren's  flank  and  turned  back  Griffin's 
Division  somewhat,  capturing  four  hundred  men.  During  the  night 
the  national  forces  were  arranged  in  the  following  order  from  Bethesda 
Church  past  Cold  Harbor  to  Elder  Swamp  Creek  running  into  the 
Chickahominy.  On  the  right,  Warren ;  then  the  corps  of  Smith, 
Wright  and  Hancock.  The  rear  of  the  left  up  to  the  Tolopotomoy 
was  protected  by  Burnside.  Lee's  position  in  front  of  Hancock  was 
naturally  strong  and  well  intrenched  throughout,  with  open  ground 
along  his  front. 

The  attack  was  ordered  by  Grant  to  follow  the  signal  gun  at  4.30 
on  the  morning  of  Friday,  June  3.  A  few  minutes  later  the  advance 
of  the  Federals  to  the  attack  was  begun  and  immediately  followed  the 
bloodiest  engagement  of  the  war  for  a  short  time.  In  less  than 
twenty  minutes  T 0,000  Union  men  lay  dead  and  wounded  on  the  field, 
while  the  Confederates,  sheltered  by  their  works,  had  lost  not  more 
than  1,000.  It  was  emphatically  "short,  sharp  and  decisive." 
Warren's  Corps  was  too  extended  over  a  three  mile  front  to  do  more 
than  hold  his  line  intact.  Some  successes  attended  parts  of  our  line, 
but  they  were  altogether  overbalanced  by  the  general  repulse.  There 
was  a  deep  consciousness  in  every  soldier  that  further  attacks  would 
be  useless.  General  Grant  confessed  in  his  memoirs,  that  this  was  a 
charge  he  wished  he  had  not  ordered.  He  certainly  fought  at  a 
disadvantage  and  it  confirmed  the  wisdom  of  his  flank  movement  plan. 
It  is  to  be  regretted  that  he  did  not  resort  to  another  such  movement 
before  this  fatal  charge.  Some  hours  later,  Meade  ordered  each  Corps 
to  move  at  its  option  to  another  attack  without  regard  to  the  other 
Corps,  but  the  order  was  suspended  upon  a  dispatch  from  Grant  that 
the  Corps  commanders  were  not  sanguine  of  success.  This  was  about 


GRANT'S  CAMPAIGN — 1864.  257 

i  o'clock  P.  M.  and  soon  after,  the  enemy  attacked  the  Union  forces, 
and  again  at  dark,  but  were  repulsed  each  time.  The  battle  was  now 
ended  each  side  holding  its  position  firmly  and  neither  being  able  to 
drive  the  other  out. 

The  following  were  the  losses  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  in 
these  battles: 

KILLED:  WOUNDED  JUNE  I: 

May  30.  William  Funke,  (Battery)  D.  Patrick  Fury,  E. 

June  3.     William  Dusick,  A.  Lewis  Hartman  (R. ),   E. 

William  Scerle,  G.  Nicholas  Manning  (R),  E. 

June  4.     Jacob  Eisele,  H.  Peter  Ford,  leg,  F. 

MORTALLY    WOUNDED,    JUNE  3:  M&rk  Heam>  ^^    L 

Stephen  Jackson  (R.),  A. 

Frank  Tscham  (  R. ),  B.  WOUNDED  JUNE  3: 

George  W.  Velie,  (  R. ),  C. 

Ignace  Haltar,  A. 

WOUNDED,  JUNE  i:  Corp.  James  R.  Lewis,  G. 

Frank  Picaud,  hand,  A.  Charles  F.  Allyn,  twice,  G. 

Sergt.  Andrew  Strong,  arm,  D.  Amos  Arnold  ( R. ),  H. 

Sergeant  Samuel  F.  Smith,  wounded  June  2,   in  both  legs,  K. 
Summary : — Killed  and  died  of  wounds,  7;  wounded,  13.     Total,  20. 

BURYING  THE  DEAD  —  SHARPSHOOTERS  —  FORWARD  AGAIN. 

The  week  after  the  last  battle  was  occupied  by  the  two  armies 
watching  each  other  in  very  close  proximity.  It  was  dangerous  and 
difficult  to  establish  the  picket  lines.  The  enemy  made  occasional 
attacks  but  were  repulsed  each  time.  The  Union  dead  and  wounded 
lay  between  the  lines  and  on  the  5th  of  June,  General  Grant  proposed 
an  armistice  for  burying  the  dead  and  removing  the  wounded  between 
the  two  armies,  but  General  Lee  refused  such  an  arrangement  until 
the  /th,  by  which  time  most  of  the  wounded  were  dead. 

The  enemy's  sharpshooters  were  possessed  of  superior  arms  with 
which  they  covered  every  portion  of  our  lines.  Not  a  man  could 
expose  his  person  above  the  earthworks  without  a  dozen  bullets 
"zipping"  at  him  from  the  watchful  foe.  To  obtain  an  estimate  of 
clothing,  it  was  necessary  to  go  to  the  front  amid  incessant  skirmish 
firing.  Lying  in  trenches,  behind  stumps  and  trees,  the  men  crouched, 
while  the  messenger  must  dodge  from  tree  to  tree  and  stump,  crawl  on 
hands  and  knees  or  roll  even  amid  leaden  death.  As  Sergeant  Eaton 
was  getting  some  requisitions  signed  by  Major  Edwards,  a  solid  shot 
buried  itself  in  the  tree  at  the  foot  of  which  they  were  sitting.  On 
June  3,  two  men  in  the  Twenty-fourth  were  killed  by  the  enemy's 
sharpshooters.  One  William  Dusick,  had  gone  out  a  few  feet  in  front 


258  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

of  the  breastworks  and  just  as  he  turned  to  come  in,  he  was  shot  in 
the  back  and  fell  dead.  There  his  body  lay  till  nightfall,  it  being 
certain  death  to  go  for  it  before  dark.  The  place  was  a  veritable 
"  Hell's  Half  Acre"  as  the  boys  called  it. 

At  9  o'clock  on  Sunday  night,  June  5,  the  Iron  Brigade  with  its 
Corps  began  to  withdraw  to  the  left,  and  after  an  all  night's  march 
arrived  at  Cold  Harbor  at  4  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Here  the 
baggage  wagons  came  up  for  the  first  time  in  a  month  and  some  of 

OO       O  O  1 

the  officers  obtained  a  much  needed  change  of  clothing.  On  the 
movement  of  the  Corps  to  the  left,  Major  Edwards  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  was  left  in  command  of  the  Division  skirmishers.  He 
was  told  that  he  would  be  ordered  in  before  daylight,  but  the  order 
to  withdraw  his  men  was  not  received  by  him  until  long  after  daylight. 
However,  he  withdrew  his  men  without  the  loss  of  a  man,  though,  as 
soon  as  they  rose  from  the  rifle  pits  they  were  exposed  to  the  fire  of 
the  enemy's  sharpshooters.  A  part  of  the  enemy's  skirmishers  were 
in  the  earthworks  before  the  detail  of  the  Iron  Brigade  was  three 
hundred  feet  away. 

On  Tuesday,  the  /th,  the  Corps  moved  towards  the  left  at  4  P.  M. 
and  continued  the  march  to  within  a  mile  of  Despatch  Station  on  the 
York  Railroad  near  the  Chickahominy  River.  The  next  day  a  heavy 
picket  detail  was  sent  out  from  the  Twenty-fourth  for  duty  on  the 
river.  The  enemy's  pickets  were  very  friendly.  There  was  no  firing 
on  either  side  and  many  came  over  to  trade  tobacco  for  coffee. 

On  June  5,  Adjutant  Chilson  was  permanently  detailed  as  Aide  on 
General  Cutler's  staff  at  Division  headquarters  and  Lieutenant  E.  B. 
Welton  became  acting  Adjutant.  On  the  ;th,  Colonel  Bragg 
of  the  Sixth  Wisconsin  took  command  of  the  Iron  Brigade. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  W.  W.  Wight  having  resigned,  Major  A.  M. 
Edwards  assumed  command  of  the  Twenty-fourth.  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Wight  had  served  long  since  he  was  scarcely  able  to  endure 
the  hardships  of  the  field  and  he  had  to  yield  to  poor  health.  He 
had  with  gallant  coolness  discharged  every  duty  that  devolved  upon 
him.  Only  125  men  and  five  officers  of  the  regiment  were  at  this  time 
present  for  duty,  about  forty  being  on  detached  service.  The  rest 
were  absent  from  wounds  and  sickness  or  lay  among  the  dead. 

On  June  10,  Major  Edwards  divided  the  regiment  into  four 
companies  for  field  duty,  commanded  as  follows:  (i)  Lieutenant 
Dempsey.  (2)  Captain  Hutchinson.  (3)  Captain  Dodsley.  (4) 
Captain  Burchell. 


GRANT'S  CAMPAIGN — 1864. 


259 


QUININE   AND   WHISKEY   RATIONS  —  MARCH   TO    PETERSBURG. 

During  the  past  week  the  daily  skirmishes  were  often  sharp  in 
front  of  some  divisions.  At  night  there  was  heavy  artillery  firing  and 
often  musketry.  The  labor  of  strengthening  the  intrenchments  had 
been  arduous.  There  was  no  water  for  the  men  in  the  trenches 
except  of  the  worst  kind.  What  with  exposure  to  the  heat  of  day  and 
little  sleep  ;  the  rudest  facilities  for  cooking  ;  no  vegetables  for  over 
a  month,  and  beef  from  cattle  exhausted  by  long  marches  and  scanty 
forage;  the  effluvia  from  dead  horses  and  mules,  and  offal  scattered 
along  the  line  of  march  as  well  as  the  unburied  dead  of  both  armies, 
while  remaining  near  the  field  of  carnage;  and  the  general  malaria 


ROUTE   OF   IRON   BRIGADE   FROM   DESPATCH  STATION  TO   PETERSBURG. 


260  HISTORY   OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

incident  to  the  low  and  marshy  Chickahominy  region,  the  wonder  is 
that  the  whole  army  was  not  prostrated  by  causes  more  potent  than 
righting  the  foe.  To  counteract  these  unhealthful  conditions  rations 
of  quinine  and  whiskey  were  issued  to  the  men. 

Having  failed  in  the  destruction  of  Lee's  army  by  capture  or 
dispersion,  Grant  resolved  to  transfer  his  army  to  the  south  of  James 
River  and  interpose  it  between  Richmond  and  the  region  from  which 
that  city  and  the  Confederate  army  received  its  supplies.  This 
movement  began  on  Sunday,  June  12.  After  a  week  of  rest  from 
fighting,  the  Iron  Brigade  with  its  Corps  left  camp  at  9  o'clock  that 
evening.  It  crossed  the  railroad  near  Despatch  Station,  marched 
several  miles  and  bivouacked.  At  daylight  of  the  I3th,  the  Iron 
Brigade  leading  the  Fifth  Corps,  moved  on.  Crossing  the 
Chickahominy  at  Long  Bridge,  it  took  the  White  Oak  Swamp  road 
towards  Richmond  as  if  pushing  for  that  place.  Lee  withdrew  his 
forces  within  the  fortifications  of  the  Confederate  capital.  After  a 
march  of  two  miles,  the  Brigade  halted  till  4  o'clock  P.  M.  It  then 
returned  to  Long  Bridge  where  it  waited  till  an  hour  and  a  half  after 
all- the  other  troops  had  passed,  and  at  8  o'clock  followed  as  rearguard. 
At  midnight  it  went  into  camp  near  St.  Mary's  Church. 

On  Tuesday  morning,  June  14,  coffee  was  made  about  daylight 
and  the  column  soon  after  started.  Marching  by  a  very  crooked  road 
via  Salem  Church  and  Westover  Church,  it  reached  Charles  City 
Court  House  at  1 1  A.  M.,  and  passed  on  to  near  Wilcox's  Landing  on 
the  James  River,  after  a  weary  march  of  forty  miles.  The 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  went  into  camp  in  a  large  field  of  oats  on  the 
plantation  of  ex-President  John  Tyler.  After  resting  a  day,  the  men 
were  aroused  early  and  were  ready  to  move  at  sunrise  on  the  i6th. 
They  were  marched  down  to  the  banks  of  the  James  River  near 
Wilcox's  Landing,  and  at  10  o'clock  crossed  the  river  on  transports. 
They  lay  in  the  sun  near  the  river  till  5  P.  M.,  when  the  line  of  march 
was  resumed  through  Prince  George  Court  House,  halting  at  midnight 
before  Petersburg.  The  rest  of  the  army  was  also  well  on  the  south 
side  of  the  James  and  taking  positions  around  the  latter  city. 

BATTLE   OF    PETERSBURG. 

Petersburg  is  situated  22  miles  south  of  Richmond  and  several 
railroads  centering  there  from  the  South  became  feeders  for  the 
Confederate  army  and  capital.  It  was  coveted  by  both  armies  and 
when  the  Union  army  began  to  cross  the  James,  Lee  hastened  his 
forces  to  occupy  it. 


GRANT'S  CAMPAIGN — 1864. 


261 


Friday  morning,  June  17,  the  Iron  Brigade  threw  up  breastworks 
in  front  of  the  enemy,  but  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  was  sent 
out  on  picket  early  in  the  morning  on  the  left  of  the  Division.  They 
had  been  out  but  a  short  time  when  they  were  withdrawn  and 
deployed  as  skirmishers  in  front  of  the  Iron  Brigade  farther  to  the 


POSITION   OF  IRON  BRIGADE   IN   BATTLE   OF  PETERSBURG,   JUNE   18,    1864. 

right.  The  left  of  the  skirmish  line  rested  on  the  Suffolk  and 
Petersburg  Railroad,  three  miles  from  Petersburg.  The  regiment, 
under  Captain  Burchell,  after  being  deployed  in  a  ravine  that  ran  in 
front  of  the  Brigade,  received  orders  from  a  Brigade  staff  officer,  to 
advance  and  relieve  the  skirmishers  of  a  Pennsylvania  regiment  that 
were  said  to  be  out  in  front.  When  the  order  to  advance  was  given, 
the  men  of  the  Twenty-fourth  sprang  forward  with  a  will  to  relieve 


262  HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

our  troops  in  front.  None  were  found,  but  that  did  not  stop  the  rush 
of  the  line  as  they  went  on  until  they  drove  the  enemy  out  of  his  rifle 
pits  not  a  hundred  yards  from  his  earthworks,  and  occupied  and  held 
them  all  the  day  until  relieved  about  9  o'clock  at  night.  During  the 
day  the  Second  and  Ninth  Corps  and  Crawford's  Division  of  the 
Fifth  Corps  (Warren's),  charged  the  enemy's  works  which  were 
penetrated  some  distance  but  not  held,  the  only  result  being  to 
establish  a  line  nearer  his  works.  After  the  assault,  the  enemy 
abandoned  his  outer  temporary  line  for  a  more  formable  one  nearer 
Petersburg.  Believing  that  most  of  Lee's  army  had  not  yet  come  up 
from  Richmond,  Grant  ordered  a  general  assault  on  the  enemy's 
works  about  Petersburg  for  the  next  morning. 

At  sunrise  on  Saturday  morning,  June  18,  the  Iron  Brigade  was 
formed  in  line  of  battle  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  The  Seventh  Wisconsin  was  on  the  right,  the  Sixth 
Wisconsin  on  the  left,  and  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  Seventh  and 
Nineteenth  Indiana  in  the  center.  They  advanced  across  the  Norfolk 
Railroad  through  three  lines  of  Confederate  works  and  forced  the 
enemy's  skirmishers  to  their  earthworks,  a  mile  from  Petersburg,  when 
the  skirmishers  were  called  in  as  the  other  Corps  were  not  all  moving 
forward  simultaneously.  The  Iron  Brigade  with  the  Fifth  Corps 
made  a  halt  until  the  general  assault  of  mid-afternoon,  when  all  the 
Corps  advanced. 

The  Fifth  Corps  had  over  a  mile  to  advance,  and  a  deep  ravine 
and  intricate  cut  of  the  Norfolk  Railroad  interposed  between  it  and 
the  enemy's  lines.  This  cut  was  deep  and  difficult  to  cross  and  was 
held  by  the  enemy  at  its  northern  end.  Its  direction  curved  so  as  to 
hinder  the  advance  of  a  line  of  battle.  To  the  Fifth  Corps  was 
assigned  the  duty  of  clearing  out  the  enemy  from  this  cut,  as  a 
preliminary  to  the  general  attack.  Its  ground  being  thus  difficult  and 
chiefly  in  open  field,  was  exposed  to  the  enemy's  artillery  for  a  long 
distance.  (See  map  on  preceding  page.) 

Cutler's  Division  was  formed  for  the  charge  in  column  by 
Brigades  —  the  Iron  Brigade  in  the  second  line.  The  formation  of 
the  column  was  made  under  cover  of  the  woods  and  behind  a  slight 
hill  midway  between  the  woods  and  the  enemy's  works  500  yards 
away,  over  the  fields  without  any  protection  from  the  enemy's  fire, 
after  exposing  themselves  on  the  hill.  .  The  order  to  advance  was 
given  and  the  men  moved  forward  to  the  work  assigned  them,  with  a 
dash  that  would  have  been  a  victory,  had  not  the  order  been  given 
when  the  Brigade  was  under  as  deadly  and  withering  a  fire  of  artillery 


GRANT'S  CAMPAIGN — 1864.  263 

and  musketry  as  it  ever  encountered,  to  move  by  the  right  flank  so  as 
to  bring  them  directly  in  rear  of  the  first  line,  as  General  Cutler 
thought  it  would  make  the  charging  column  stronger. 

When  the  order  to  advance  again  was  given,  but  a  part  of  the 
Brigade  obeyed  the  command — the  balance  falling  back  under  cover 
of  the  hill.  What  few  did  obey  advanced  to  a  position  within  pistol 
shot  of  the  enemy.  Some  of  the  men  of  the  Twenty-fourth  fell  close 
up  under  the  Confederate  works.  The  men  of  the  Division,  finding 
themselves  unable  to  carry  the  enemy's  position,  sought  shelter  in  a 
ravine  but  a  short  distance  from  the  works  they  had  tried  to  carry, 
where  most  of  them  remained  until  after  dark  when  they  were  all 
withdrawn  and  reformed  under  cover  of  the  hill  they  had  charged  over 
during  the  afternoon. 

Shortly  afterwards,  the  Iron  Brigade  was  sent  down  into  the 
ravine  to  try  to  carry  the  enemy's  works  from  that  point,  but 
General  Bragg  deciding  that  it  was  impossible  to  do  so,  withdrew  the 
Brigade  to  its  position  on  the  hill  where  the  Division  soon  had  a  good 
line  of  works  completed  not  three  hundred  yards  from  the  enemy. 

The  attack  of  each  Corps  was  a  terrible  Union  disaster,  and  there 
was  a  general  repulse  along  the  whole  line  with  a  loss  of  several 
thousand  men.  The  only  success  or  advantage  was  to  gain  positions 
very  near  the  lines  of  the  enemy  which  were  intrenched,  and  the  lines 
of  the  two  armies  remained  about  the  same  till  the  close  of  the  war. 
During  the  next  few  days,  there  were  some  spirited  skirmishes  and 
sharp  picket  firing,  by  moonlight  as  well  as  by  day,  but  no  general 
attack.  On  the  iQth,  Major  Hutchinson  was  wounded  within  fifteen 
minutes  after  his  return  from  hospital,  while  drinking  a  cup  of  coffee 
with  Lieutenant-Colonel  Edwards. 

The  following  were  the  losses  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  in 
the  battle  of  Petersburg  and  the  few  days  following: 

KILLED  JUNE  l8,    1864:  WOUNDED,  JUNE  iy. 

Adjutant  SERIL  CHILSON,  Aide.  Corp.  Anthony  Bondie,  thigh,  F. 

Sergeant  William  Maiers,  G.  Jeremiah  Sullivan,  G. 

Corporal  Orville  C.  Simonson,  G.  Charles  Bills,  scalp,  H. 

Richard  Downing,  D.  Edward  L.  Farrell,  leg,  H. 
John  B.  Beyette  (R),  F.  WOUNDED,  JUNE  18. 

John  B.  Cicotte,  (R),  F.  Capt    GEQRGE  w   BuRCHELL>  B. 

Timothy  O.  Webster,  F.  ist  Ueut    MlCHAEL  DEMPSEYi   A. 

MORTALLY  WOUNDED,  JUNE  i8:  Sergt.  Frederick  A.  Hanstine,  A. 
Ezra  E.  Derby,  C.  "      John  J.  Duryea,  B. 

Elisha  C.  Reed,  F.  "      Thomas  Stackpole,  E. 

Nathaniel  J.  Moon,  H.  "      Ferd.  E.  Welton,  H. 

Theodore  B.  Thomas,  I.  Corp.  Barnard  Parish,  A. 


264 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


Corp.  Amos  B.  Cooley,  groin,  F. 

"      Orville  W.  Stringer,  I. 
Joseph  Aff  halter  (R.),  A. 
Henry  Hanstine,  thigh,  A. 

WOUNDED,  JUNE  l8. 
John  Parish,  (R.),  A. 
Stephen  Prairie,  A. 
Ferdinand  Stark  (R.),  A. 
Joseph  E.  McConnell  (R.)  leg  amp.,  B. 
Robert  Towers,  arm,  C. 
William  Kells,  C. 
Ralph  G.  Terry,  C. 
William  Bigsley  (R.),  D. 
Andrew  J.  Bucklin  (R.),  F. 
Charles  B  Cicotte  (R.),  F. 
Oliver  Dubey  (R.),  F. 
Bozile  Vallade  (R.),  F. 


William  Vandervoorts,  I. 

Gurdon  L.  Wight,  leg  amputated,  K. 

WOUNDED,  JUNE  IQ. 

Major  WILLIAM  B.  HUTCHINSON. 

WOUNDED,  JUNE  2O. 

Herman  Krumbach  (R.),  F. 
WOUNDED,  JUNE  21. 

ist  Lieut.  GEORGE  H.  PINKNEY,  K. 
Sergt.  Charles  H.  Chope,  neck,  G. 
Charles  D.  Minckler,  leg,  B. 
Thomas  Robinson  (R.),  F. 
Michael  Brabeau,  head,  G. 

WOUNDED,  JUNE  23. 
Anselm  Ball  (R),  I. 

WOUNDED,  JUNE  2Q. 
James  Murphy,  A. 


Summary: — Killed  and  died  of  wounds,  11;  wounded,  38.     Total,  49. 


DEATH  OF  ADJUTANT  CHILSON. —  PERSONAL   REMINISCENCE. 

In  the  Petersburg  battle,  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  lost  one  of 
its  bravest  and  most  promising  young  officers — Adjutant  Seril  Chilson 
who  was  killed  while  serving  on  General  Cutler's  staff.  The  fatal 
ball  severed  the  jugular  vein  and  came  out  near  the  eye.  He  fell 
forward  on  his  horse  which  bore  him  back  to  his  lines  and  which 
became  drenched  with  his  blood.  Chaplain  Way  thus  wrote  of  the 
sad  event  at  the  time: 

All  mourn  his  loss,  but  our  mourning  is  not  without  hope.  During  the  latter 
part  of  the  winter  he  felt  the  justice  of  God's  claim  upon  his  affections  and  for 
some  time  before  breaking  camp  he  fully  consecrated  his  heart  to  God.  In  conver 
sation  three  days  before  his  death  he  gave  the  happy  assurance  that  all  was  well,  and 
said  that  if  he  fell  in  battle  it  would  only  be  to  exchange  this  for  a  better  state  of  ex 
istence.  He  freely  gave  himself  to  his  country  and  God  took  him  home. 

Recording  this  incident  recalls  sad  reminiscences.  This  noble 
young  officer  and  the  writer  of  these  pages  had  been  friends  in  youth, 
as  students  and  teachers.  Each  had  enlisted  in  the  same  company, 
unbeknown  to  the  other  until  they  met  at  Camp  Barns.  Neither 
joined  in  the  scramble  for  positions  and  received  none.  On  mustering 
day,  our  young  comrade  was  too  weak  to  stand  to  be  sworn  in  without 
leaning  upon  the  support  of  his  friend.  Captain  Speed  of  their 
company,  whom  neither  knew  before  coming  into  camp,  after  the 
muster,  assured  both  of  his  regret  that  no  non-commissioned  positions 
were  left  unfilled,  but  their  promotion  should  follow  their  soldierly 


GRANT'S  CAMPAIGN — 1864. 


265 


merits  when  vacancies  occurred.  Such  words  inspired  both  with  a 
friendly  rivalry  for  advancement.  The  day  of  battle  came  and  found 
one  sick  with  pneumonia  at  Brooks'  Station,  Virginia,  sixteen  miles 
from  the  field  of  Fredericksburg.  Knowing  that  absence  from  the 
ranks  in  the  engagement  might  be  misconstrued  and  result  in  being 
outranked  by  others  in  the  promotion  list,  he  hastened  from  a  sick 
bed  to  find  his  own  regiment,  and  failing  to  do  this  became  mingled 
with  another  in  the  battle  and  came  out  both  maimed  for  life  and  all 
chances  for  promotion  forever  gone.  His  comrade  on  that  battleday 
won  promotion  on  the  field  by  volunteering  to  help  man  a  battery 
and  establish  a  dangerous  picket  line.  In  due  time  his  reward  came 
as  Adjutant  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan.  While  under  twenty  years 
of  age,  and  having  won  an  honorable  record,  he  was  cut  down  in  the 
harvest  of  death,  on  the  threshold  of  early  manhood  —  a  martyr  to  his 
country.  Farewell,  friend  of  our  youth  !  May  his  comrades  revere 
his  memory  as  they  pass  his  grave  on  the  banks  of  the  Huron. 


OUR  WOUNDED   BURNING  UP   IN  THE   WILDERNESS. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 


SIEGE  OF  PETERSBURG -1864 


PROGRESS   OF   THE   CAMPAIGN  —  BROOKS'    EXPEDITION. 

ESS  THAN  two  months  had  passed  when  this  campaign 

I *  against  Richmond  had  cost  the  Union  army  over  65,000  men 

jfjfj  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  or  more  than  the  entire 
number  in  Lee's  army  during  this  period.  This  disparity 
resulted  largely,  as  noted  in  the  last  chapter,  from  the  Confederates 
fighting  behind  intrenchments,  while  the  Union  troops  were  the 
assaulting  party  against  whom  the  hazards  of  battle  are  usually 
greatest.  Witness  Lee  at  Malvern  Hill,  Gettysburg  and  the  Bloody 
Angle  at  Spottsylvania  ;  Burnside  at  Fredericksburg,  and  Grant  at 
Laurel  Hill  and  Cold  Harbor,  not  to  mention  examples  in  the  wars  of 
history. 

The  nation  and  world  stood  aghast  at  this  deluge  of  blood.  Gold, 
to  some  extent  the  barometer  of  national  success  or  failure,  reached 
its  highest  quotation,  while  criticism  of  the  General  of  the  age  was 
shared  not  alone  by  those  whose  wishes  were  manifested  by  their  oft 
lamenting  expression,  "If  Lee  only  had  the  men" 

But  these  sacrifices  were  required  to  save  this  nation.  While 
ability  managed  the  southern  army,  the  statesmen  of  the  South  (if  it 
had  any)  should  have  insisted,  in  the  interests  of  humanity  to  their 
own  people,  that  the  war  terminate  after  Gettysburg,  Vicksburg  and 
Port  Hudson.  But  no,  the  "last  ditch"  must  be  reached,  and  their 
last  man  (their  own  persons  excepted)  must  be  sacrificed.  Already 
"  the  cradle  and  the  grave  had  been  robbed "  for  recruits.  Those 
loudest  in  the  continuation  of  the  war  were  not  in  it.  Scarcely  a  man 
of  the  traitors  who  brought  on  this  war  and  plunged  the  whole  land 
into  a  sea  of  blood  ever  perished  on  the  field.  It  is  usually  so. 

The  military  resources  of  the  South  had  to  be  exhausted,  its 
armies  subdued,  annihilated  or  captured.  Every  man  rendered  useless 
to  fight,  brought  the  rebellion  so  much  nearer  its  close.  Grant  knew 
this.  He  knew  his  available  resources  and  his  reserves.  He  knew 

(266) 


SIEGE   OF   PETERSBURG— 1864.  26/ 

that  even  at  that  late  day,  foreign  recognition  of  the  Confederacy 
was  possible  and  probable,  unless  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion  be 
accomplished  without  delay.  This  required  a  large  outlay  of  blood  for 
the  restoration  of  national  authority,  and  he  possessed  the  cool, 
indomitable  fortitude  to  pursue  a  course  and  the  course  to  that  end, 
leaving  political  matters  to  others. 

The  terrible  battles  of  the  Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  Salient  at 
Spottsylvania,  North  Anna,  Bethesda  Church,  Cold  Harbor  and 
Petersburg,  each  embracing  several  days  of  carnage  —  all  fought  inside 
of  six  weeks  —  caused  no  greater  bloodshed  than  an  equal  number  of 
battles  of  the  war  fought  by  other  generals  and  covering  a  period  of 
many  months.  Something  had  been  accomplished.  The  insurgent 
army  had  been  greatly  reduced  and  hemmed  in  about  Richmond  and 
Petersburg  never  to  come  out  again  except  for  a  chase  and  capture. 

What  is  known  as  the  Siege  of  Petersburg  now  began,  having  for 
one  object  an  investment  of  the  Eastern  insurgent  army  in  a  firmer 
grasp,  by  a  system  of  forts  and  intrenchments  from  which  there  was 
no  escape,  while  General  Sherman  was  exhausting  the  Western 
Confederates,  without  either  Southern  army  receiving  reinforcements 
from  the  other.  And  thus  the  close  of  this  wicked,  cruel  and  cause 
less  rebellion  was  apparent. 

After  the  Petersburg  battle  a  company  of  thirty-two  men  from 
the  regiments  of  the  Iron  Brigade,  under  Adjutant  E.  P.  Brooks  of 
the  Sixth  Wisconsin,  was  sent  out  to  destroy  some  bridges  at  Roanoke 
on  the  Danville  Railroad.  The  men  were  picked,  well  armed  and 
mounted.  On  the  morning  of  June  22,  they  found  a  Confederate 
officer  at  a  house,  "sick."  They  paroled  him  and  rode  on.  At 
mid-afternoon  the  company  halted  at  a  farm  house,  dismounted  and 
stacked  arms  for  supper,  without  throwing  out  any  guard.  Soon  after 
they  were  surprised  by  a  demand  from  the  paroled  officer  of  the 
morning  to  surrender.  He  had  gathered  a  lot  of  farmers  who  with 
shotguns  went  in  pursuit.  Deploying  his  squad  over  a  hill  so  that 
only  the  heads  of  their  horses  and  men  could  be  seen,  they  appeared 
more  numerous  than  they  were.  He  demanded  of  the  Brooks 
Company  a  surrender  to  his  "superior  force,"  which  was  complied 
with.  All  their  horses,  accoutrements  and  arms  were  taken  from  them 
and  the  whole  command  made  prisoners  of  war.  Five  of  this  company 
belonged  to  the'  Twenty-fourth  Michigan:  Anthony  Long,  of  A; 
Samuel  W.  Foster,  of  C;  Shelden  E.  Crittenden,  of  F;  George  Martin, 
of  G,  and  Corporal  Frederick  Bosardis,  of  I. 


268 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


THE    SIEGE.  —  PETERSBURG    MINE.  —  PROMOTIONS. 

During  the  coming  months  of  the  siege,  the  intermitting  blasts  of 
battle  and  the  ebb  and  flow  tide  of  war  heaved  around  Petersburg 
like  ocean  swells.  Occasionally  there  was  an  hour  of  stillness,  but 
usually  the  air  was  broken,  night  and  day,  by  the  sharp  concussions  of 
nearer  guns  and  the  boom,  boom  of  more  distant  ones. 

During  the  next  few  weeks  the  Iron  Brigade  alternated  with  its 
fraternal  Second  Brigade  in  the  rifle  pits,  about  twice  a  week.  When 
out  of  the  trenches,  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  withdrew  to  the 
woods  for  a  day  or  two  of  rest,  glad  of  an  opportunity  to  stand  up 


SIEGE   OF  PETERSBURG,    VIRGINIA. 


SIEGE    OF   PETERSBURG— 1864.  269 

without  getting  a  bullet  through  their  heads.  Monday,  July  4,  was 
remarkably  quiet.  Every  few  days  a  heavy  detail  was  made  when 
not  in  the  rifle  pits  to  work  on  the  new  forts  and  fortifications.  On 
July  13,  several  of  the  fatigue  party,  while  picking  berries,  were 
captured  by  the  enemy,  including  Charles  Martin,  of  G,  of  the 
Twenty-fourth.  On  Sunday,  the  i/th,  several  deserters  came  in  and 
reported  an  intended  attack  that  night  on  our  lines.  The  Iron 
Brigade  after  dark  moved  out  to  near  the  front  line,  and  in  an  hour 
had  thrown  up  new  works,  but  no  enemy  came,  and  at  daylight  they 
returned  to  camp.  Tuesday,  the  iQth,  was  noted  for  the  first  rain  fall 
in  forty-three  days.  There  had  become  a  great  dearth  of  surface 
water.'  While  in  camp  good  water  was  obtained  by  digging  wells  a 
few  feet  in  depth.  By  reason  of  the  rain,  the  Iron  Brigade  did  not 
relieve  the  Second  Brigade  in  the  rifle  pits  that  night,  but  did  so  at  9 
o'clock  the  next  morning  without  disturbance  from  the  enemy.  On 
Sunday,  the  24th,  about  six  hundred  from  the  Iron  Brigade  took  up  a 
railroad  track  and  converted  it  into  a  wagon  road. 

Under  one  of  the  strongest  of  the  Confederate  forts  a  mine  had 
been  constructed,  consisting  of  eight  magazines  in  which  were  placed 
8,000  pounds  of  powder.  The  magazines  were  connected  with  the 
Union  lines  200  yards  away  by  a  tunnel  four  and  a  half  feet  high  and 
the  same  in  width.  At  5  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  July  30,  the 
explosion  occurred,  when  the  fort,  its  guns  and  garrison  of  300  men 
were  blown  up  and  annihilated.  The  explosion  made  an  excavation 
in  the  ground  two  hundred  feet  long,  fifty  feet  wide  and  thirty  feet 
deep,  and  it  was  a  signal  for  all  the  Union  guns  to  open  a  heavy 
"cannonade.  A  charge  was  made  at  the  same  time  by  the  Ninth  Corps 
troops,  to  capture  a  hill  in  the  rear  of  the  destroyed  fort,  which 
commanded  the  city  of  Petersburg.  They  went  no  further  than  the 
crater  just  formed,  and  a  division  of  colored  troops  went  forward  to  the 
charge  of  the  hill.  They  pushed  well  up  towards  the  crest  but  were 
twice  repulsed  and  fled  in  confusion  to  the  crater,  where  they  and  the 
Ninth  were  unmercifully  slaughtered  by  the  enemy.  It  was  death  to 
remain  and  death  to  try  to  escape.  The  Union  loss  was  about  4,400 
men  and  the  Confederate  1,000 — a  most  lamentable  failure.  In  this 
affair  the  Iron  Brigade  occupied  the  first  line  of  works  and  opened  a 
musketry  fire  as  the  mine  exploded  within  their  view.  During  that 
night  the  Iron  Brigade  was  relieved  from  the  trenches.  The  Union 
dead  and  wounded  were  still  lying  between  our  lines  and  the  ruined 
fort.  The  enemy  refused  a  flag  of  truce  for  their  relief. 


2/0  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH  MICHIGAN. 

At  3  o'clock  on  Sunday  afternoon  July  31,  the  Iron  Brigade  left 
camp  for  a  new  one  on  the  left  of  the  army,  guarding  its  left  flank  and 
rear.  The  new  camp  was  within  150  yards  of  a  strong  fort  and  a  line 
of  breastworks  in  front.  Here  the  regiment  enjoyed  a  much  needed 
rest  for  two  weeks,  the  location  being  a  pleasant  one.  It  was  called 
"Camp  Chilson  "  and  was  near  the  Suffolk  and  Norfolk  Railroad. 

About  this  time  several  promotions  occurred  in  the  regiment. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Wight  had  resigned  in  June  and  now  Major  A.  M. 
Edwards  was  promoted  to  Leiutenant-Colonel.  He  had  commanded 
the  regiment  since  the  former  left,  Colonel  Morrow  still  being  absent 
because  of  his  Wilderness  wound.  Captain  Hutchinson  became  Major. 
First  Lieutenants  Connor  and  Haigh  became  Captains;  Sergeant 
Lewis  A.  Chamberlin  became  First  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant; 
Quartermaster  Sergeant  Alonzo  Eaton,  Sergeant  George  W.  Chilson 
and  Corporal  Albert  Wilford  became  First  Lieutenants.  Captain  John 
M.  Farland  resigned  in  July,  1864.  The  regiment  was  now  but  a 
remnant  of  its  former  proud  array.  But  few  of  the  original  officers 
were  left,  most  of  the  present  ones  having  risen  from  the  ranks. 
Numerous  also  were  the  promotions  among  the  non-commissioned 
officers  and  privates.  Surgeon  Beech  had  charge  of  the  Iron  Brigade 
hospital  and  had  nearly  exhausted  himself  in  amputation  duties 
during  the  campaign  from  the  Rapidan.  Being  a  skillful  surgeon  his 
services  were  in  great  demand  in  the  Division.  Divine  services  which 
had  been  suspended  during  the  marching  and  fighting,  were  again 
established  by  Chaplain  Way.  The  regiment  tarried  here  until 
Sunday  August  I4th,  when  it  received  orders  to  move. 

It  halted  on  ground  which  Hancock's  Corps  left.  Towards  the 
middle  of  August  this  Corps  (Second)  had  been  sent  north  of  the 
James  River  near  Deep  Bottom  to  attract  the  attention  of  Lee  and 
get  him  to  weaken  his  forces  about  Petersburg.  This  accomplished, 
Warren's  Corps  was  moved  around  to  the  left  to  seize  the  Weldon 
Railroad  and  cut  off  one  of  the  main  feeders  of  the  Confederate 
capital  and  army.  The  excessive  fall  of  rain  compelled  a  slight  change 
of  camping  ground  on  the  i6th. 

BATTLE   ON   THE   WELDON    ROAD. 

Thursday,  August  18.  At  4.30  A.  M.  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan 
with  the  Iron  Brigade  moved  with  Warren's  Corps  out  on  the 
Jerusalem  Plank  Road  and  then  about  six  miles  off  to  the  west  to 
Yellow  (or  Globe)  Tavern  on  the  Weldon  Railroad,  and  destroyed  a 


SIEGE   OF   PETERSBURG — 1864.  271 

long  piece  of  it.  Warren  left  Griffin's  Division  to  guard  the  point 
seized,  and  forming  the  rest  of  the  Corps  in  an  east  and  west  line, 
advanced  north  towards  Petersburg  about  a  mile  and  halted  when  it 
found  the  enemy  in  front.  About  1.30  P.  M.,  when  Warren  attempted 
to  advance,  the  enemy  suddenly  massed  on  his  left  and  in  the  fight, 
the  5th  Corps  lost  several  hundred  men,  but  Warren  held  the  field  and 
had  possession  of  the  coveted  Weldon  Railroad.  The  Iron  Brigade 
was  not  actively  engaged.  The  line  advanced  to  the  edge  of  a  piece 
of  woods  and  built  earthworks. 

Friday,  August  19,  Lee  was  determined  to  regain  the  Railroad, 
so  important  to  the  Confederates,  and  during  the  night  sent  heavy 
reinforcements  for  that  purpose.  The  Iron  Brigade  was  deployed  as 
skirmishers,  its  right  extending  from  the  right  of  the  Fifth  Corps  to 
the  left  of  the  old  line  and  covering  a  frontage  of  over  a  mile  in 
length.  The  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  held  the  center  and  the  entire 
line  run  through  dense  woods.  About  3  o'clock  P.  M.,  the  enemy  massed 
a  division  on  the  right  center  of  our  line,  made  an  attack  and  drove 
back  the  Nineteenth  Indiana  veteran  volunteers  on  our  right. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Edwards  immediately  moved  the  Twenty-fourth 
Michigan  by  the  right  flank  and  covered  the  ground  vacated  by  the 
Indiana  troops.  This  new  line  was  held  for  a  few  moments  only,  as 
there  were  no  supports.  But  by  holding  the  ground  for  that  brief 
time,  it  saved  a  large  portion  of  the  Iron  Brigade  from  capture.  As 
it  was,  Mahone's  Confederate  Division  struck  the  advance  skirmish 
line  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  and  captured  twenty-one  of  its 
men.  They  were  not  four  rods  in  front  of  the  regiment,  but  owing  to 
the  dense  woods  the  enemy  came  upon  them  by  surprise. 

Immediately  there  was  great  confusion  as  the  enemy  had  nearly 
surrounded  that  part  of  our  line,  capturing  the  sharpshooters  and  part 
of  the  Seventh  Indiana.  Every  man  then  took  care  of  himself,  and 
there  was  a  lively  foot  race  amid  shower  after  shower  of  bullets,  as 
the  men  had  no  desire  to  visit  Georgia  and  other  Southern  prison 
pens.  A  volume  might  be  written  on  the  narrow  and  often  laughable 
escapes  of  the  men  at  this  time.  A  couple  of  brigades  of  the  Ninth 
Corps  opportunely  came  up,  enabling  Warren  to  reform  his  lines  and 
regain  the  lost  ground,  compelling  the  enemy  to  fall  back  to  his 
intrenchments.  At  night  there  were  but  fifty-four  men  left  in  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  besides  the  officers,  and  but  one  hundred  and 
seventy  men  left  in  the  Iron  Brigade. 

Saturday,  August  20.  The  Iron  Brigade  Headquarters  were 
established  near  the  Yellow  or  Globe  Tavern,  and  during  the  day  the 

(18) 


2/2 


HISTORY   OF   THE  TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


scattered  men  came  in  so  that  it  had  five  hundred  men  and  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  seventy-six.  At  noon  the  Iron  Brigade 
crossed  the  Railroad,  formed  a  line  and  built  strong  earthworks 
running  north  and  south.  During  the  day  the  Seventh  Wisconsin 
came  up.  This  regiment  lost  but  very  few  men  and  held  its  ground 
out  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  skirmish  line. 


ffftff 


lrcv.Bcie.i2u 


D 


DATTLE-GROUND   ON    WELDON    RAILROAD,    AUUUST  21,    1864. 

Sunday,  August  21.  About  9  o'clock  A.  M.  the  enemy  opened 
with  thirty  pieces  of  artillery,  crossing  their  fire  at  right  angles  over 
the  heads  of  Warren's  troops.  After  an  hour's  diversion  of  this  kind, 
they  advanced  to  the  attack  on  front  and  flank  in  three  lines  of  battle 
and  met  with  a  most  terrible  reverse.  Two  of  their  lines  were  almost 
entirely  killed  or  captured.  In  front  of  the  Union  earthworks  was  a 
cornfield,  back  of  which  were  some  woods  from  which  the  enemy 


SIEGE    OF   PETERSBURG — 1864. 


273 


charged  in  good  style.  They  were  allowed  to  come  up  pretty  close, 
when  a  general  rattle  of  musketry  and  artillery  cut  them  in  pieces. 
Some  concealed  themselves  in  a  ditch  near  by,  and  it  being  death  to 
advance  or  retreat,  they  dropped  their  guns  and,  waving  their  hats  or 
anything  they  had  in  token  of  surrender,  rushed  pell-mell  over  the 
Union  works  as  if  Satan  would  get  the  last  man.  Our  men  took  them 
by  the  hand  in  many  instances  and  helped  them  over  the  works.  At 
night  the  enemy  fell  back  from  our  front,  leaving  his  dead  and 
wounded. 

This  was  the  first  time  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  had  ever 
fought  from  behind  breastworks.  Frequently  it  had  built  them  but 
came  out  in  front  to  do  its  fighting.  On  this  occasion  they  doubly 
welcomed  the  enemy's  attack.  The  Iron  Brigade  captured  nearly  the 
whole  of  two  Confederate  regiments.  The  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  was 
credited  with  capturing  twenty-six  prisoners,  including  one  Colonel,  one 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  one  Major,  five  line  officers  and  the  flag  of  the 
Twelfth  Mississippi.  In  this  day's  affair,  but  one  man  was  wounded 
in  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Edwards  asked 
the  captured  Colonel  to  what  troops  he  was  attached.  He  replied : 
"  The  troops  that  have  whipped  you  so  often  —  Mahone's  Division  — 
but  they  did  not  do  much  of  that  thing  to-day."  This  timely  victory 
left  Warren  in  full  possession  of  the  Weldon  Road  which  cut  off  this 
important  line  of  the  enemy's  supplies. 

Monday,  the  22d,  was  spent  in  burying  the  enemy's  dead  and 
bringing  in  his  wounded  which  were  thickly  scattered  over  the 
cornfield.  Among  their  killed  was  a  Major  who  was  buried  where  he 


BURYING  THE  DEAD. 


2/4  HISTORY  OF   THE    TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

fell,  and  being  disinterred  was  recognized  by  an  enlisted  man  of  the 
Second     Brigade   of   this    Division    as   being  his  own    son. 

The  following  were  the  casualties  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan 
at  the  Battle  of  the  Weldon  Road,  in  August,  1864: 

Corporal  Rufus  J.  Whipple  of  K,  mortally  wounded,  August  21. 

WOUNDED,  AUGUST  l8:  WOUNDED,  AUGUST  IQ: 

Charles  Daney  (R.),  I-  George  W.  Segar,  breast,  D. 

Daniel  Donehue  (R.),  I.  John  McDermott,  E. 

CAPTURED  AUGUST  IQ. 

First  Lieut.  ALONZO  EATON,  B.  Henry  H.  Ladd,  D. 

Sergt.  John  Roach,  E.  Samuel  Reed  (R.),  D. 

"       Eugene  F.  Nardin,  I.  William  Bruskie,  E. 

"       B.  Ross  Finlayson,  K.  William  Powers,  E. 

Corp.  John  A.  Sherwood,  C.  Daniel  Bourassas,  F. 

"      Thomas  G.  Norton,  E.  Thomas  Burnett  (R.),  H. 

"      Robert  E.  Bolger,  H.  Clark  W.  Butler,  (R.),  H. 

Charles  Willaird,  A.  August  Gillsbach,  H. 

Err  Cady,  B.  Francis  Hynds,  H. 

William  A.  Herrendeen,  C.  John  Chapman  (R),  K. 
John  Passage,  jr.,  C. 

FORTIFICATIONS — SIEGE    DUTIES  —  PEBBLE'S   FARM,    ETC. 

Immediately  after  the  Petersburg  battles  of  June  17-22,  the  army 
settled  down  to  fortification  building  but  a  short  distance  from  the 
enemy.  Portable  sawmills  were  set  up  along  the  Blackwater  and 
forests  of  oak  and  pine  converted  into  timber,  etc.,  and  the  work  of 
fort  building  went  on  from  Fort  McGilvary  near  the  Appomattox 
around  to  the  south  side  of  Petersburg.  To  prevent  this  fort  building 
the  enemy  nightly  resorted  to  artillery  and  musketry  firing  which  was 
very  excessive  in  some  places.  In  the  Fifth  Corps  line  near  where 
the  Iron  Brigade  had  charged  with  such  fatal  results  on  June  18,  was 
Fort  Sedgwick  —  but  so  hot  a  place  did  it  become  from  the  enemy's 
bullets  that  it  was  nicknamed  "Fort  Hell."  This  new  victory  of 
Warren  on  the  Weldon  Railroad  now  required  an  additional  amount 
of  fort  building  and  the  work  was  pushed  forward  with  alacrity. 

To  supply  the  necessaries  of  the  army  a  military  railroad  was 
constructed  from  City  Point  running  off  towards  Petersburg  and  just 
outside  the  reach  of  the  enemy's  guns,  extending  clear  around  to  the 
south  side.  It  went  up  grade  and  down  grade  and  over  trestles. 
These  forts,  fortifications  and  the  military  road  were  all  constructed 
and  operated  by  enlisted  men  of  the  army. 

During  the  next  few  weeks  the  Iron  Brigade  was  engaged  in 
siege,  picket  and  fatigue  duty,  making  forts  and  earthworks.  Its 


SIEGE   OF   PETERSBURG — 1864.  2/5 

numbers  were  greatly  reduced  and  the  numbers  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
Michigan  present  for  duty  were  the  fewest  since  it  left  Detroit. 
Company  K,  Captain  Dodsley,  had  now  but  two  men  left,  Sergeant 
Ira  W.  Fletcher  and  Elijah  Little,  and  during  this  period  it  afforded 
amusement  to  witness  the  evolutions  of  this  company.  Colonel 
Morrow  had  so  far  recovered  from  his  Wilderness  wound  as  to  go  to 
Michigan  on  recruiting  duty  in  which  he  was  fairly  successful. 

On  August  23,  the  Iron  Brigade  strengthened  its  works  on  the 

O  «•/'  O  O 

Weldon  Railroad  and  built  an  abatis  in  front.  The  next  day  it  erected 
works  for  a  couple  of  batteries.  About  noon  the  Twenty-fourth 
Michigan  moved  to  the  east  side  of  the  railroad  and  went  into  camp, 
fitting  it  up  with  shades,  etc.  On  the  25th,  the  Iron  Brigade  was 
ordered  to  go  to  Hancock's  assistance  at  Reams'  Station.  After 
marching  half  a  mile,  they  returned  to  camp  as  the  enemy  were 
repulsed.  The  Fourth  Division  was  this  day  broken  up  and  merged 
with  the  Third  under  General  Crawford.  The  Iron  Brigade  will  now 
be  known  as  the  First  Brigade,  Third  Division,  Fifth  Army  Corps. 
On  the  26th,  Crawford's  Division  formed  a  new  line  facing  the  rear  of 
Yellow  or  Globe  Tavern.  On  August  31,  the  camp  was  moved  over 
into  some  woods  affording  a  far  better  location,  and  the  men  engaged 
in  the  usual  pastime  of  fort  building. 

On  September  i,  Morris  L.  Hoople  of  H  was  captured  by  the 
enemy.  Two  years  ago  this  day  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  arrived 
in  Washington  from  home — then  over  1000  strong ;  this  day  less  than 
100  men  gather  about  its  flag!  At  2  A.  M.  of  the  2d,  the  Iron  Brigade 
was  aroused  and  marched  down  the  railroad  and  massed  with  its 
Division  until  daylight,  to  resist  an  expected  cavalry  attack.  The 
Division  was  then  moved  back  and  massed  near  Yellow  or  Globe 
Tavern  until  evening,  when  all  repaired  to  camp.  On  the  I2th  a  brisk 
picket  firing  was  kept  up  all  day,  caused  by  the  Union  forces 
attempting  to  strengthen  their  lines.  On  the  morning  of  the  I4th  the 
camp  was  again  moved  so  as  to  bring  the  Iron  Brigade  together. 
This  camp  was  very  inferior  to  the  former  one.  Some  recruits  had 
begun  to  arrive  for  the  Twenty-fourth  and  they  were  drilled  eight  hours 
each  day.  On  the  22d,  General  Warren  reviewed  the  Iron  Brigade, 
complimenting  it  upon  its  appearance.  On  Sunday  the  25th,  General 
Grant,  Secretary  Seward  and  other  notables  came  to  the  front,  and 
eight  officers  of  the  Twenty-fourth  went  off  without  leave  to  see  them. 
While  gone,  the  Iron  Brigade  received  orders  to  move  into  the  front 
line  of  works  and  the  regiment  started  off  without  the  absent  officers, 
whom  they  met  as  they  were  on  their  way  to  camp.  Lieutenant- 


2/6  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Colonel  Edwards  notified  them  to  consider  themselves  under  arrest. 
On  the  following  day  they  received  a  suitable  admonition  to  return  to 
duty  and  set  no  more  such  examples. 

On  Friday,  September  30,  the  First  and  Second  Divisions  of  the 
Fifth  Corps  with  the  Ninth  Corps,  made  an  attack  upon  the  enemy  at 
Peeble's  Farm.  The  brave  Colonel  Norvell  E.  Welch  of  the  Sixteenth 
Michigan,  waving  his  sword  over  his  head,  exclaimed:  "  A  commission 
for  the  first  man  who  will  scale  the  enemy's  works,"  and  himself  led 
the  charge.  Mounting  the  breastworks,  he  leaped  from  their  top  over 
into  the  works,  but  before  reaching  the  ground,  two  minnie  balls 
pierced  his  head,  killing  him  instantly.  No  braver  man  ever  fell  for 
his  country.  In  the  afternoon,  the  Iron  Brigade  left  its  works  and 
moved  back  to  the  old  camping  ground  and  awaited  orders. 

At  3  o'clock  on  Saturday  morning,  October  i,  the  Iron  Brigade 
was  called  up  and  soon  after  moved  out  with  its  Division  near  the 
Flower  House  on  the  Vaughn  Road  and  threw  up  earthworks.  The 
enemy  charged  the  line  on  the  left  but  were  repulsed.  The  Iron 
Brigade  was  not  engaged,  and  on  Monday,  the  3d,  was  set  to  building 
a  small  fort  near  the  Vaughn  Road,  and  about  dark  went  back  to  its 
old  camp  near  the  Gurley  House.  It  lay  in  bivouac  till  4  o'clock  the 
next  day  when  it  was  ordered  to  support  the  skirmish  line,  after  which 
it  moved  to  its  old  camp  at  the  left  of  Fort  Howard. 

On  the  /th  drill  and  guard  mounting  were  resumed,  for  the  first 
time  since  spring. — The  next  day  the  picket  line  was  advanced  nearly 
a  mile.  A  part  of  it  was  driven  back  about  dark  and  the 
Twenty-fourth  went  out  to  help  them  form  a  new  line.  —  On  the  next 
day,  Sunday,  the  Qth,  the  regiment  was  sent  out  on  picket.  There 
was  some  firing  in  the  morning  and  at  midnight. —  On  the  loth, 
Sergeant  Roswell  L.  Root,  of  C,  captured  and  brought  in  two 
prisoners.  One  was  six  feet,  five  and  one-half  inches  in  height.  —  On 
the  1 3th,  the  old  regiments  of  the  Iron  Brigade  turned  out  to  bid 
good-bye  to  the  Nineteenth  Indiana  which  left  for  home  after  their 
hard  service  of  three  years.  —  October  I4th  found  the  regiment  again 
on  picket  duty.  A  horserace  track  had  been  improvised  near  Fort 
Dushane,  which  many  of  the  Generals,  other  officers  and  men  visited 
on  race  days.  —  On  Sunday,  the  i6th,  Corporal  Rhoades  brought  in 
two  deserters  from  the  enemy  very  early,  belonging  to  the  sixty-fourth 
Georgia.  —  On  the  igth,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Edwards  called  General 
Crawford's  attention  to  the  horse  racing  near  Fort  Dushane,  as  having 
a  demoralizing  effect  upon  the  army.  —  The  next  day  the 
Twenty-fourth  again  took  its  tour  at  picket  duty.  —  On  Saturday,  the 


SIEGE   OF   PETERSBURG — 1864.  2// 

22d,  General  Warren  sent  down  and  arrested  all  the  enlisted  men  at  the 
horse  races.  Several  Generals  and  numerous  other  officers  were 
present.  —  On  the  24th,  the  Iron  Brigade  turned  out  to  straighten  the 
works  in  front.  All  trees  in  camp  were  ordered  to  be  cut  down.  —  All 
the  next  day  the  Twenty-fourth  was  engaged  in  work  on  the  new 
lines  and  clearing  away  the  fallen  trees.  —  On  the  26th  there  was 
noticeably  no  picket  firing.  All  soldiers  very  correctly  divine  that 
such  periods  of  silence  are  usually  but  preludes  to  something  ominous. 


GENERAL   SAMUEL   W.    CRAWFORD. 


The  wagons  were  all  packed  and  sent  to  the  rear  and  orders  received 
to  be  ready  to  move  at  4  o'clock  the  next  morning. 

BATTLE   OF   HATCHER'S    RUN —  CLEVER   CAPTURE. 

Before  winter  began  Grant  resolved  to  gain  possession  of  the 
Southside  Railroad  which  had  become  the  main  channel  of 
Confederate  supplies.  The  Second,  Fifth  and  Ninth  Corps  were 
selected  for  this  task  of  turning  Lee'  right  flank.  The  Boydton  Plank 
Road  runs  nearly  parallel  with  the  Southside  Railroad,  between  the 
latter  and  the  Weldon  Railroad.  Hatcher's  Run  is  formed  by  several 
affluents,  and  it  meanders  around  considerably.  In  this  vicinity  it 
heads  in  a  southeasterly  course. 

Thursday,  October  27,  1864.  Punctually  at  4  A.  M.  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  with  the  Iron  Brigade  (Crawford's  Division 
and  Fifth  Corps),  left  camp,  moving  westward  to  where  Poplar 
Spring  Church  had  been  burned  ;  thence  south  to  our  line  of  works; 
then  west  again,  passing  out  of  the  works  at  Fort  Clemens  on  our 


2/8 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


extreme  left  flank  near  the  Squirrel  Level  road.  The  column  turned 
down  this  road  to  the  Vaughn  Road  ;  thence  down  that  road,  to  a 
new  one  cut  through  the  woods  west  to  Armstrong's  Mill  on  Hatcher's 
Run.  At  the  Fort,  the  column  passed  Generals  Grant  and  Meade, 
the  former  sitting  on  a  log,  quite  alone,  enjoying  a  cigar. 

The  Iron  Brigade  crossed  the  Run  about  noon  and  formed  in  line 
of  battle,  this  Brigade  being  in  advance  with  its  right  next  to  the 
stream.  The  rest  of  the  Fifth  Corps  was  on  the  opposite  side  of  this 


REGION  SOUTHWEST   OF  PETERSBURG,    VA.      HATCHER'S   RUN,   DABNEY's   MILLS,   ETC. 

stream  and  up  both  sides  of  it  the  Corps  moved.  The  Iron  Brigade 
marched  about  three  miles  up  hill  and  down  hill,  by  the  right  flank 
and  by  the  left  flank,  but  actually  advanced  only  about  half  that 
distance.  The  dense  low  growth  of  woods  and  crookedness  of  the  Run 
caused  much  delay.  A  large  affluent  was  mistaken  for  the  main 
stream  which  produced  diversion,  aside  from  the  difficulty  in  crossing 
the  side  stream,  the  enemy  having  slashed*  down  the  trees  upon  its 
bank  and  felled  them  into  it. 

Having  crossed  this  tributary,  Crawford  formed  his  Division  in 
line,  with  the  Iron  Brigade  on  the  left  flank  and  the  Twenty-fourth 


SIEGE   OF   PETERSBURG — 1864.  279 

Michigan  on  the  left  of  its  Brigade.  The  Second  Corps  had  made  a 
longer  march  around  to  the  left  of  Crawford,  but  did  not  connect  with 
him.  This  Corps  (the  Second)  and  the  Qth  were  engaged,  but  the 
Fifth  was  not,  except  its  skirmish  line.  The  Seventh  Wisconsin  with 
156  muskets  were  sent  out  as  skirmishers,  and  in  the  engagement, 
captured  216  prisoners,  and  released  about  fifty  Union  prisoners 
that  had  been  captured  by  the  enemy.  It  was  difficult  for  the  two 
parts  of  the  Fifth  Corps  to  communicate,  as  the  banks  of  the  Run  were 
dammed  up  and  swampy  as  well  as  covered  with  timber  slashing. 
After  the  repulse  of  the  enemy's  attack  by  the  other  Corps,  night 
came  on  and  the  troops  all  bivouacked  where  they  were. 

During  the  afternoon  it  was  unsafe  to  be  even  a  few  rods  from 
the  line,  as  the  "Johnnies"  appeared  to  be  there  as  well  as  in  front. 
Captures  and  recaptures  were  frequent.  Instances  of  one  man 
capturing  several  prisoners  have  been  boastfully  claimed  during  the 
war,  with  much  incredulity,  but  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  claims 
one  such  instance,  though  not  vi  et  armis,  but  with  the  tongue. 
Sergeant  Robert  Gibbons  of  B,  went  a  few  rods  in  front  of  the  line  to 
ascertain  the  position  of  the  enemy  when  he  was  captured  by  half-a- 
dozen  or  more  "Johnnies."  While  trying  to  get  back  with  their 
capture,  "Bob,"  as  he  was  known  in  the  regiment,  tried  his 
argumentative  powers  on  the  "  we  'uns."  He  told  them  that  they  had 
better  consider  themselves  as  his  prisoners  and  go  into  his  lines;  that 
his  side  was  going  to  beat  in  the  end  and  they  had  better  go  where 
their  safety  and  good  feeding  were  assured.  The  leader  of  the  squad 
told  him:  "Yank,  if  you  don't  stop  that  kind  of  talk,  I'll  blow  the  top 
of  your  head  off."  Gibbons  then  walked  with  him  and  told  him  they 
would  wander  around  in  the' woods  between  the  lines  until  all  of  them 
would  get  their  heads  blown  off,  and  it  was  better  to  go  in  with  him 
where  they  would  have  no  more  fighting.  "This,"  said  he,  "was  far 
better  than  having  a  head  blown  off."  The  leader  and  the  whole 
squad  were  persuaded  that  their  cause  was  going  up  sure  and  their 
prisoner's  advice  was  wise  for  them,  and  they  consented  to  go  with 
him.  Sergeant  Gibbons  then  had  a  difficult  task  to  find  even  his  own 
lines  and  get  in  unharmed.  Presently  he  heart  the  loud  "  Baw  —  baw 
—  baw"  of  some  of  the  enlisted  Indians  in  one  of  the  Wisconsin 
regiments  of  the  Iron  Brigade,  and  turned  in  the  direction  of  their 
familiar  whoop.  He  succeeded  in  getting  in  safely  with  all  his 
captors  who  laid  down  their  arms  at  the  sight  of  the  Seventh 
Wisconsin,  which  regiment  was  sent  out  to  reconnoiter. 


280  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Friday,  October  28,  was  rainy  like  the  day  before.  In  the 
darkness  of  the  night,  the  lines  were  quietly  changed.  The  leaders 
finding  that  what  ought  to  have  been  accomplished  yesterday,  had 
failed,  resolved  to  abandon  the  movement.  At  daybreak,  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  was  marched  out  of  the  woods  and  placed 
on  picket  to  cover  the  backward  movement,  the  design  evidently  being 
to  sacrifice  this  picket  line  to  effect  the  safe  withdrawal  of  the  rest  of 
the  troops.  However,  the  regiment  discovered  that  all  the  other 
troops  had  gone  and  the  men  had  a  lively  run  to  prevent  being 
captured.  They  overtook  the  column  at  Fort  Clemens  on  the 
backward  march.  They  arrived  in  the  camp  they  had  left  when  they 
set  out,  at  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  with  only  one  man  missing  —  A. 
Brutus  Heig  (Recruit),  of  Company  D. 

RECRUITS  —  CABINS  —  ELECTION  —  CAMP   AFFAIRS. 

Over  one  hundred  recruits  had  been  added  to  the  regiment  during 
the  autumn  months  and  these,  as  had  other  recruits  in  former  battles, 
demeaned  themselves  in  a  very  creditable  manner  on  this  occasion. 

Saturday,  October  29.  The  regiment  moved  its  camp  back  from 
the  line  of  works  and  worked  all  this  day  and  Sunday  in  building 
cabins.  They  worked  like  beavers  to  complete  their  houses  before 
the  inclement  weather  set  in  and  were  none  too  soon.  On  Sunday 
night  the  enemy  attacked  the  picket  line.  The  Twenty-fourth  was 
hastily  put  into  line  but  their  services  were  not  required. 

Tuesday,  November  8.  Election  Day.  An  election  in  a  Virginia 
Camp  for  candidates  away  off  in  Michigan  was  a  novel  affair.  The 
day  before  was  ominous  with  silence  by  the  enemy  and  an  outbreak 
was  expected  to  disturb  the  voting,  but  all  was  quiet.  The  polls  were 
opened  at  eight  o'clock  at  Regimental  Headquarters.  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Edwards,  Captain  Witherspoon  and  Lieutenant  Hendricks 
were  made  Inspectors,  and  Captain  Dodsley  and  Adjutant 
Chamberlin  were  made  Clerks  of  Election.  For  President,  the  vote 
stood  177  for  Lincoln  and  49  for  General  McClellan.  Ex-Lieutenant- 
Colonel  W.  W.  Wight  was  present  as  Commissioner  and  carried  the 
vote  to  Michigan.  During  the  voting,  a  deserter  came  in  from  the 
enemy  and  said  he  wanted  to  vote  for  Lincoln.  The  vote  of  the  old 
regiments  of  the  Iron  Brigade  was  543  for  Lincoln  to  116  for 
McClellan. 

Sunday,  November  13.  Colonel  Morrow  returned  to  the  regiment 
looking  quite  well.  For  several  weeks  he  had  been  detailed  on  a 


SIEGE    OF   PETERSBURG — 1864.  28  I 

General  Court  Martial  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  after  his  recovery  from  his 
Wilderness  wound.  For  the  rest  of  the  month  nothing  unusual 
occurred  in  the  affairs  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  aside  from  the 
usual  inspections,  camp,  fatigue  and  picket  duties.  During  three  days 
and  four  nights  it  rained  incessantly  after  which,  on  the  23d,  the 
ground  froze  solid  and  winter  had  really  begun.  That  morning 
Patrick  English  (Recruit)  of  C  was  wounded  on  the  picket  line. 
There  was  usually  very  little  picket  firing  when  the  black  hats  of  the 
Iron  Brigade  were  seen  ;  but  along  the  other  lines,  the  spiteful  popping 
was  heard,  averaging  from  sixty  to  one  hundred  shots  a  minute.  It 
was  so  common  that  it  was  hardly  noticed.  Quite  a  number  of 
deserters  from  the  enemy  came  in  every  night  and  a  score  or  more  of 
them  reported  at  Division  Headquarters  every  morning. 

Thanksgiving  Day  came  on  the  24th  and  a  good  dinner  from 
friends  at  home  was  expected,  but  the  delay  of  a  boat  disappointed 
the  men,  and  the  good  things  did  not  arrive  for  several  days  after. 
There  was  a  treat  in  camp  when  they  did  come,  and  the  men  began  to 
count  the  days  until  August  15  next,  when  their  three  years  of  service 
would  permit  them  to  enjoy  the  full  blessings  of  that  enchanted  place, 
home.  Several  promotions  about  this  time  occurred  in  the  regiment. 
First  Leiutenant  Benj.  W.  Hendricks  became  Captain,  and  Sergeants 
Samuel  W.  Church  and  Shepherd  L.  Howard  became  First 
Lieutenants,  while  numerous  advancements  were  made  among  the 
rank  and  file.  The  camp  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  was  in  front 
of  General  Meade's  headquarters,  which  locality  was  marked  by  a 
mammoth  flag  by  day  and  two  red  lights  by  night.  Rows  of  huts 
roofed  with  cotton  and  plastered  over  with  Virginia  soil  were 
everywhere  to  be  seen.  Major  Graves,  the  sutler  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
Michigan  and  Iron  Brigade  purveyor,  came  up  with  a  fine  supply  in 
his  line.  The  Military  railroad  ran  near  the  camp  and  within  hearing 
distance  of  the  southside  railroad  operated  by  the  enemy.  The  shrill 
whistles  of  their  engines  were  answered  back  and  forth  as  each  was 
hauling  supplies  for  its  respective  army.  The  health  of  the  regiment 
was  good  and  now  was  recruited  up  so  that  300  men  appeared  in  its 
dress  parades. 

RAID    TO    MEHERRIN   RIVER. 

Monday,  December  5,  1864,  brought  orders  to  leave  camp  on  the 
following  morning  with  six  day's  rations.  The  Sixth  Corps  came  to 
relieve  the  Fifth  and  the  fine  cabins  of  the  Twenty-fourth  were  to  be 


282  HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN. 

occupied  by  the  Fifteenth  New  Jersey.  Thus  the  soldier  knows 
not  in  the  morning  where  he  will  sleep  at  night ;  or  whether  he  will 
sleep  at  all,  or  in  eternity.  There  was  hurrying  to  and  fro.  All 
baggage  was  to  be  left  behind  and  the  men  discarded  all  extra  pieces 
of  tents,  blankets  and  clothing  with  which  they  hoped  to  make 
themselves  comfortable  during  the  winter.  They  saw  a  hard  winter's 
march  before  them  for  some  place,  none  knew  where,  and  not  wishing 
to  be  burdened  with  a  heavy  knapsack,  put  themselves  in  light 
marching  order.  Here  and  there  was  some  soldier  giving  some 
message  to  a  comrade  who  was  to  remain  behind,  or  entrusting  his 
valuables  to  him  for  safety  while  he  went  on  a  doubtful  campaign. 
Letters  from  friends  and  "  the  girls  at  home"  were  carefully  consigned 
to  the  flames  that  they  might  never  by  chance  be  seen  by  eyes  of 
strangers.  The  camp  sank  to  rest  amid  the  echoes  of  bugle  and  drum 
beat  that  filled  the  fields  and  woods  with  tattoo,  as  the  entire  Fifth 
Corps  seemed  to  be  camped  near  by.  On  Tuesday  morning,  an  early 
reveille  awakened  all  the  field  and  hundreds  of  fires  blazed  up  to  cook 
the  frugal  breakfast  of  coffee  and  bacon.  At  daylight  the  long  line  of 
blue  moved  away  about  two  miles  and  massed  near  the  Jerusalem 
Plank  Road. 

A  portion  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  had  been  out  on  picket 
during  the  night  and  in  the  morning  while  one  of  the  men,  Samuel 
Davis  of  B  was  cooking  his  coffee  about  8  o'clock,  he  was  killed  in  a 
most  murderous  manner  by  a  rebel  fiend  who  stealthily  crept  up  and 
shot  him  dead.  The  act  was  the  more  dastardly  from  the  fact  that 
for  two  months  amicable  relations  had  existed  between  the  pickets 
and  videttes  of  the  enemy  and  those  of  the  Iron  Brigade,  and  our  men 
felt  safe  from  picket  firing.  The  members  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
Michigan  rightfully  felt  very  bitter  over  this  treacherous  murder  and 
had  they  been  allowed  to  remain  upon  the  line,  there  would  have 
been  a  fearful  retaliation.  His  comrades  brought  his  body  away  and 
buried  it  with  military  honors  about  half  a  mile  south  of  Fort 
Stevenson  where  the  troops  were  massed.  The  deceased  was  only 
twenty  years  old  and  his  parents  resided  in  Detroit. 

Wednesday,  December  7.  The  column  left  camp  at  7  A.  M.  and 
marched  south  on  the  Jerusalem  Plank  Road.  It  crossed  Nottaway 
River  on  pontoons  near  Freeman's  Bridge  and  pushed  on  as  far  as 
Sussex  Court  House  where  they  bivouacked  for  the  night.  At 
daylight  on  the  8th,  they  moved  on  south  and  soon  turned  in  a 
westerly  direction.  Reaching  the  Weldon  Railroad  at  Jarratt's 
Station,  they  burned  the  station  and  the  bridge  north  across  the 


SIEGE   OF   PETERSBURG — 1864. 


283 


Nottaway  without  opposition,  destroying  the  railroad  between. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Edwards  was  made  Field  Officer  of  the  Division 
and  posted  pickets  to  protect  the  men  while  destroying  the  railroad. 
On  the  Qth  they  moved  further  south  tearing  up  and  destroying  the 
railroad  as  they  advanced,  for  a  distance  of  twenty  miles,  as  far  as 
Hicksford  on  Meherrin  River.  The  railroad  was  completely  destroyed. 
The  rails  were  heated  by  being  placed  on  top  of  heaps  of  burning  ties 
and  fence  rails,  and  then  twisted  around  trees  and  rendered  useless. 
Culverts  and  bridges  were  burned,  and  every  unoccupied  dwelling 
along  the  line  of  march  was  laid  in  ashes  as  the  column  returned. 


SOLDIERS   DESTROYING  THE   WELDON   RAILROAD. 


This  raid  seemed  to  be  the  most  vindictive  that  the  army  had  ever 
engaged  in.  Some  of  our  stragglers  had  been  murdered  by  guerrillas 
and  their  bodies  savagely  mutilated,  which  so  enraged  our  troops  that 
vengeance  was  wreaked  upon  everything  that  would  benefit  the  enemy. 
The  destruction  of  the  railroad  was  a  military  necessity,  as  the  enemy 
used  it  to  transport  their  supplies;  but  the  destruction  of  the  houses 
of  peaceable  women  and  children,  though  venomous  in  their  Union 
hatred,  cannot  be  justified.  We  are  glad  to  record  that  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  and  the  Iron  Brigade  had  no  share  in  the 
vandalism.  The  country  passed  over  had  been  pretty  badly  used  by 
the  enemy  themselves  and  most  of  the  dwellers  had  gone  further 
south  away  from  the  track  of  war. 


284  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

On  Saturday  December  10,  about  daylight,  the  column 
commenced  moving  back.  The  Iron  Brigade  moved  about  1 1  o'clock 
covering  the  rear,  by  the  direct  road  to  Sussex  Court  House.  The 
biting  wind,  cold  snow  and  sleet  with  the  muddy  roads,  long  and 
rapid  marches,  made  the  expedition  a  tedious  one.  After  a  march  of 
fifteen  miles,  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  was  put  on  picket  to  guard 
the  rear,  about  five  miles  south  of  Sussex  Court  House.  On  Sunday 
the  nth,  the  Iron  Brigade  again  acted  as  rear  guard  to  the  returning 
column.  It  moved  at  8.30  A.  M.  and  kept  half  a  mile  behind  the 
main  column.  The  enemy  followed  close  but  did  not  attack  with  any 
spirit.  They  crossed  the  Nottaway  and  bivouacked  two  miles  north 
of  it.  Continuing  to  act  as  rear  guard,  the  Iron  Brigade  reached  Fort 
Stevenson  about  sunset  on  Monday  evening,  the  column  having 
marched  over  100  miles  in  six  days,  aside  from  its  labor  in  destroying 
over  twenty  miles  of  railway  track. 

CAMP  CRAWFORD  —  NEW  COLOR  GUARD  —  PROGRESS  OF  THE  WAR. 

After  its  return  from  the  Meherrin  River  Raid,  the  regiment 
remained  in  most  uncomfortable  bivouac  in  an  open  field,  exposed 
to  the  cutting  cold,  damp  winds,  and  stiflng  smoke  of  pine  wood  fires 
until  Friday  morning,  December  16,  when  the  bugle  sounded  the 
"pack-up."  The  column  moved  across  the  Jerusalem  Plank  Road, 
toward  the  rear  and  eastward,  followed  by  the  wagon  trains.  The 
Iron  Brigade  filed  off  to  the  east  of  the  Plank  Road  into  a  thick 
growth  of  small  pines,  flanked  by  heavier  woods  in  every  direction,  and 
began  cutting  logs  for  new  winter  quarters.  The  location  was  a  good 
one,  and  about  two  miles  from  the  military  railroad.  It  was  named 
"  Camp  Crawford  "  after  the  Division  Commander. 

On  this  day  Colonel  Morrow  reorganized  the  color-guard.  The 
guard  appointed  on  May  3  had  nobly  borne  and  preserved  the 
regimental  flag  till  nearly  all  were  wounded  and  had  to  relinquish 
their  charge.  Special  order  No.  68  declared  : 

Sergeant  Charles  O.  Durfee  of  Company  C,  having  volunteered  his  services, 
and  having  by  long  service  entitled  himself  to  this  honorable  distinction,  is  hereby 
appointed  Color  Sergeant  of  this  regiment.  The  following  Corporals  are  also 
appointed  to  the  color  guard  :  Frank  Stewart  of  Company  C,  James  Lindsay  of 
Company  D,  William  Weiner  of  Company  G,  John  Malcho  of  Company  H,  and  Frank 
Kellogg  of  Company  K. 

On  December  17,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Edwards  rode  up  to  the 
place  where  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  made  its  fearful  charge  on 


SIEGE    OF   PETERSBURG — 1864.  285 

the  1 8th  of  June  last.  The  trees  had  all  been  cut  away  and  its 
appearance  much  changed.  All  day  Sunday  the  i8th,  the  men  worked 
to  complete  their  cabins. — With  winter-quarters,  the  furlough  season 
returned.  In  granting  furloughs,  preference  was  given  to  married 
men  and  those  who  had  never  been  away  from  the  regiment  on 
furlough  or  otherwise. — Captain  George  W.  Burchell  was  appointed  to 
try  and  determine  court-martial  cases  for  violations  of  the  military 
discipline. — The  holidays  were  spent  without  any  special  event. 
General  Bragg  having  gone  on  a  leave  of  absence,  December  22d, 
Colonel  Morrow  took  command  of  the  Brigade,  and  as  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Edwards  left  the  same  day  on  leave,  the  command  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  devolved  upon  Major  Hutchinson. 

During  the  months  of  the  siege  of  Petersburg,  it  is  well  to  note 
the  'progress  of  our  arms  in  other  parts  of  the  wide  field  of  war 
operations.  We  have  already  noted  the  departure  of  Sherman  upon 
his  campaign  at  the  same  time  that  Grant  crossed  the  Rapidan  on  his 
Richmond  advance  in  the  early  days  of  May  last.  During  the 
summer,  Sherman  had  victoriously  fought  his  way  to  and  captured 
Atlanta,  including  the  battles  at  Resaca,  Dallas,  Kenesaw  Mountain 
and  Marietta,  during  the  six  weeks  that  Grant  was  moving  from  the 
Rapidan  around  to  Petersburg.  Both  wings  of  the  Union  army 
seemed  "to  flap  together"  for  once,  owing  to  the  directive  mind  of  one 
man.  At  midnight  of  May  3  when  Grant  started  on  his  line  of  march, 
he  telegraphed  the  fact  to  Sherman  who  also  set  out  with  his  army. 
These  dual  operations  of  the  eastern  and  western  sections  of  the 
Union  forces  occupied  the  attention  of  the  Confederate  armies 
opposing  each,  so  that  neither,  as  frequently  had  been  the  case 
theretofore,  could  spare  troops  to  assist  the  other.  On  the  23d  of  July, 
Atlanta  fell,  which  was  a  great  loss  to  the  Confederacy,  as  it  had  been 
the  great  center  for  manufacturing  war  material  for  the  Southern 
armies. 

Admiral  Farragut  and  the  Union  navy  were  also  getting  in  their 
work  on  the  water  borders  of  the  would  be  slave-government.  During 
August,  he  captured  Mobile  and  so,  slowly  but  surely,  the  good  work 
went  bravely  forward.  While  Grant  was  firmly  holding  the  enemy  to 
his  defences  around  the  Confederate  capital  and  Petersburg,  Sherman 
was  resting  at  Atlanta,  making  preparations  for  his  great  movement 
a  few  months  later  which  would  startle  the  world  and  strike  terror 
into  the  heart  of  the  Confederacy. 

Then  too,  during  this  autumn  there  were  the  most  glorious 
victories  of  Sheridan  over  the  Confederate  Early  in  the  Shenandoah 


286  HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Valley,  at  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill  and  Cedar  Creek,  which  electrified 
the  nation,  knocked  gold  from  its  dizzy  height,  and  placed  the  Union 
cause  upon  an  assured  basis.  Story  and  song  have  made  famous 
"  Sheridan's  Ride  "  from  Winchester  to  the  front  on  his  coal  black 
steed,  and  by  his  magnetic  presence  reorganizing  the  fleeing  troops 
and  winning  a  brilliant  victory  out  of  defeat. 

The  Shenandoah  Valley  had  been  the  granary  for  the  Confederate 
army  and  Grant  ordered  Sheridan  to  destroy  it  so  completely  that  "a 
crow  would  have  to  carry  rations  in  flying  over  it,"  and  it  was  done. 
Every  house,  barn,  shed,  farming  implement  and  fence  that  could  in 
any  way  be  utilized  in  cultivating  crops  to  feed  the  enemy's  army  was 
destroyed.  Such  is  war.  Virginia  and  many  parts  of  the  South 
drank  the  waters  of  bitterness  during  the  four  years  of  their  armed 
rebellion  —  but  they  invited  and  brought  the  trouble  upon  themselves 
when  they  set  at  defiance  the  national  authority. 

The  day  after  election,  General  Sherman,  having  allured  Hood's 
army  to  follow  up  a  part  of  his  troops  away  from  Atlanta  towards 
Nashville,  cut  loose  from  his  communications  with  the  North.  After 
having  completely  destroyed  Atlanta  as  a  military  supply  center  for 
Confederate  armies,  he  started  on  his  great  "March  to  the  Sea"  which 
became  the  wonder  of  both  continents.  He  captured  Savannah  just 
before  Christmas  and  disclosed  the  weakness  and  inevitable  collapse 
of  the  Confederacy. 

General  Hood  had  gone  on  to  Nashville  where  General  Thomas 
gave  him  battle,  and  his  army  was  so.completely  annihilated  and  its 
remnant  so  dispersed,  that  it  was  never  heard  of  after,  except  in 
history.  All  in  all,  the  year  1864  closed  with  every  encouragement 
for  the  success  of  the  Union  cause  and  speedy  restoration  of  peace, 
and  New  Year,  1865,  was  the  brightest  since  the  war  began. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

CLOSING  MONTHS  OF  THE  WAR. 

INDORSEMENT  —  CAPTAIN   BURCHELL — GENERAL   MORROW. 

WINTER  quarters,  the  most  comfortable  and  uniform  that  the 
regiment  ever  had,  were  completed  during  the  early  days  of 
January,  1865,  and  called  "Camp  Crawford."     It  was  laid' 
out  in  five  streets,  a  company  on  each  side  of  a  street,  the 
cabins  were  6l/2  x  10  feet  in  size,  with  chimneys  in  the  rear,  each  cabin 
accommodating  four  men. 

Major  Hutchinson  applied  to  the  War  Department  to  have  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  filled  up  and  General  S.  W.  Crawford 
endorsed  the  recommendation  in  the  following  flattering  terms : 

HEADQUARTERS  FIFTH  ARMY  CORPS,  January  10,  1865. 

This  noble  regiment  has  a  most  honorable  record.  Its  ranks  are  thin  from  the 
casualties  of  disease  and  battle,  but  the  spirit  of  the  officers  and  men  who  remain  is 
unchanged,  and  I  would  respectfully  urge  its  claims  to  be  filled  up  to  the  maximum, 
as  it  is  second  to  no  other  regiment  in  this  army. 

During  this  month,  Captain  George  W.  Burchell  resigned  in 
obedience  to  impaired  health  from  long  and  faithful  service  and 
pressing  private  business  at  home.  Every  officer  in  the  regiment  and 
every  man  in  his  company  signed  a  testimonial  in  his  behalf.  One 
amusing  episode  in  his  army  experience  will  bear  narrating.  The 
Captain  had  been  home  on  furlough  and  had  overstaid  his  time  a 
few  days,  returning  the  day  before  the  campaign  began  in  May,  1864. 
For  this  delay,  he  was  placed  under  arrest  by  some  authority  in 
Washington  but  allowed  to  go  to  his  regiment.  A  Court  of  Inquiry 
was  ordered  which  was  held  on  one  of  the  battlefields  in  that 
campaign  while  the  shot  and  shell  were  being  hurled  over  their  heads 
as  they  stood  under  a  tree.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  Captain  was 
honorably  acquitted  of  any  wrong  intention.  The  following  premature 
obituary  appeared  in  the  Detroit  Tribune  in  1863,  not  an  unusual 
occurrence  in  war  days  : 

DEATH  OF  LIEUT.  BURCHELL. — We  learn  by  a  private  dispatch  received  by  the 
wife  of  Lieut.  Burchell  of  this  city,  that  that  officer  has  died  of  the  wounds  received 

(287) 
(19) 


288  HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

while  crossing  into  Fredericksburg  with  the  24th.  As  an  officer  and  a  gentleman,  he 
was  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him,  and  his  loss  will  be  mourned  by  a  large 
circle  of  friends. 

The  month  of  January  brought  another  series  of  promotions, 
among  the  non-commissioned  officers  and  ranks  and  a  commission  for 
Sergeant  A.  F.  Ziegler.  On  January  25,  General  Henry  A.  Morrow 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Third  Brigade  (Hoffman's)  of  the 
Third  Division,  Fifth  Army  Corps.  This  left  the  regiment  in  charge 
of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Edwards  again,  who  had  already  had  much 
experience  in  its  command  during  Colonel  Morrow's  absence  from 
wounds,  etc. — Captain  Whiting  and  Lieutenant  Chilson  were  made 
acting  Aides  to  General  Morrow.  It  is  no  longer  proper  to  say 
Colonel  Morrow,  but  General  Morrow  hereafter,  as  his  brilliant  record 
has  tardily  but  finally  received  merited  recognition,  by  his  being 
brevetted  Brigadier-General  of  U.  S.  Volunteers  "for  gallant  and 
distinguished  services,"  a  promotion  deservedly  bestowed.  This  and 
a  full  Brigadiership  were  earned  by  him,  many  times,  upon  the  bloody 
field  of  Gettysburg.  In  that  whirlwind  of  death,  he  gave  his  command 
an  example  by  his  intrepidity  and  valor.  To  the  nerve  and  daring  of 
the  commanding  officer  is  often  due  the  courage  of  his  men.  Were 
he  to  be  less  brave,  so  very  likely  would  they.  To  General  Morrow 
the  nation  owes  a  meed  of  praise  which  it  has  immeasurably  accorded 
him  for  his  services  that  day — frequently  taking  the  flag  into  his  own 
hands  and  thereby  becoming  a  shining  mark  for  death's  arrows,  and 
encouraging  his  men  to  rally  around  it;  thus  making  stand  after 
stand,  delaying  the  enemy's  advancing  lines  until  the  hastening  troops 
of  the  rest  of  Meade's  army  could  come  up  —  holding  back  the  enemy 
until  he  was  himself  wounded  and  four-fifths  of  the  regiment  had 
disappeared  in  the  whirlwind  of  battle  that  swept  over  that  fatal  first 
day's  field  at  Gettysburg.  Had  he  and  his  gallant  band  done  less  or 
shown  less  fortitude  on  that  occasion,  the  fears  of  General  Wadsworth 
might  have  been  painfully  realized  when  he  said  what  has  already 
been  quoted:  "Colonel  Morrow,  God  only  knows  what  would  have 
become  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  had  you  not  fought  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  as  long  as  you  did." 

FRIENDLY   PICKETS  —  MEDICINE    RATIONS  —  MEDALS  OF  HONOR,  ETC. 

The  month  of  January  passed  away  with  the  usual  winter  duties, 
the  regiment  taking  its  tours  at  picket.  The  pickets  of  the  opposing 
armies  had  settled  down  in  the  regiment's  front  to  a  quietude  as  if  no 


CLOSING    MONTHS   OF   THE   WAR.  289 

war  existed.  It  was  a  frequent  occurrence  to  see  the  enemy  and  our 
own  men  cutting  firewood  from  the  same  tree  between  the  lines.  On 
January  26,  the  following  was  issued: 

SPECIAL  ORDER  No.  3. —  The  quinine  and  whiskey  ordered  to  be  issued  to  the 
troops,  will  be  dealt  out  in  this  regiment  like  other  medicines,  by  the  surgeons.  It  is 
hereby  made  the  duty  of  the  Officer  of  the  Day  to  see  that  the  men  report  by  company 
to  the  surgeon,  each  morning  and  evening,  and  take  their  medicine.  Those  who  are 
conscientiously  opposed  to  the  stuff  may  be  excused  from  drinking  it. 

In  some  of  the  other  regiments  of  the  Iron  Brigade,  medals  of 
honor  had  been  awarded  to  certain  ones  in  the  ranks  for  conspicuous 
bravery  and  honorable  conduct.  An  invitation  came  from  Brigade 
headquarters,  to  name  members  of  the  Twenty-fourth  for  similar 
distinction,  to  which  Major  Hutchinson  then  in  command  replied  as 
follows : 

Although  this  regiment  has  participated  in  every  march,  skirmish,  battle,  etc., 
in  which  the  Brigade  has  been  engaged,  I  can  recall  no  instance  in  which  any 
particular  member  thereof,  has  so  far  distinguished  himself  above  his  comrades  as  to 
entitle  him  to  a  distinctive  badge  of  merit.  I  could  cite  many  cases  where  soldiers 
of  this  regiment  have  left  their  sick  beds  in  hospital  to  rejoin  their  comrades  when  a 
battle  was  expected  ;  others,  where  they  have  marched  for  days  with  bare  and 
bleeding  feet,  as  in  the  march  to  Gettysburg  ;  others  again,  when  they  were  wounded 
in  action  so  as  to  disable  them  from  handling  their  muskets,  have  refused  to  leave  the 
field,  but  remained  to  carry  water  or  tear  cartridges  for  their  comrades.  Such  acts 
have  been  performed  in  so  many  instances  by  members  of  this  regiment  that  I  cannot, 
doing  justice  to  all,  recommend  any  soldier  as  more  deserving  than  his  comrades. 

Under  the  supervision  of  Chaplain  Way,  a  chapel  for  worship  was 
in  course  of  erection  by  the  men,  but  marching  orders  on  the  afternoon 
of  February  4,  brought  their  work  to  a  close.  There  was  much 
speculation  where  the  troops  were  going  and  what  for,  but  as  time 
alone  would  reveal  the  mystery,  the  night  was  passed  as  usual  on  such 
occasions,  in  receiving  a  good  supply  of  rations  and  full  complement 
of  cartridges,  and  in  reducing  knapsacks  to  the  marching  weight,  as 
well  as  writing  letters  home,  perhaps  farewell  ones.  Then  too,  it  was 
a  source  of  anxiety  if  this  mid-winter  movement  would  result  in  an 
abandonment  of  their  cosy  and  comfortable  winter  cabins  as  in 
December  last. 

BATTLE   OF   DABNEY'S    MILL. 

Before  daylight,  Sunday  morning,  February  5,  1865,  the  moving 
column  was  well  under  way  far  from  their  winter  camp.  It  consisted 
of  the  Second  and  Fifth  Corps,  all  under  command  of  General 


2QO  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Warren.  It  was  a  beautiful  Sabbath  day  and  the  bright  sun  shone 
cheerily  upon  the  veteran  troops  as  they  measured  their  footsteps 
towards  the  enemy.  The  Iron  Brigade  headed  the  Third  Division 
and  moved  down  the  Halifax  road  towards  Reams'  Station.  After  a 
march  of  six  miles,  Rowanty  Creek  was  reached,  which,  though  only 
twenty  feet  wide  was  not  conveniently  fordable. 

The  column  was  deployed  for  a  while  to  allow  the  construction  of 
a  temporary  bridge.  The  bridge-building  was  simple.  Two  trees  at 
the  proper  distance  from  each  other  on  the  bank  were  felled 
transversely  across  the  stream  by  the  pioneers.  The  fallen  trees 
served  as  stringers  upon  which  was  constructed  a  solid  bed  of  boughs. 
Having  crossed  this  novel  bridge,  the  Regiment  with  the  Iron  Brigade 
turned  west  and  continued  the  march  across  Hatcher's  Run  and 
bivouacked  for  the  night.  The  men  suffered  much  from  the  cold,  as 
tents  and  blankets  had  been  left  in  camp. 

Monday  morning,  the  6th,  was  spent  in  taking  positions,  the 
Second  Corps  on  the  right  of  the  Fifth.  At  4  o'clock  in  the  morning 
the  Iron  Brigade  moved  back  on  the  Vaughn  Road  across  Hatcher's 
Run,  and  re-crossed  this  stream  about  noon  and  pushed  to  the  right 
of  the  Duncan  Road  through  the  woods  towards  Dabney's  Mill. 
The  Seventh  Wisconsin  and  the  I5oth  Pennsylvania  were  deployed 
as  skirmishers,  while  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  guarded  the 
left  flank.  The  skirmishers  were  soon  engaged  and  a  running  fight 
ensued,  the  main  body  following  up  our  skirmish  line  as  it 
advanced  and  pushed  the  enemy  back  to  the  vicinity  of  Dabney's 
Mill,  where  he  had  taken  position  under  cover  of  some  temporary 
works,  from  which  he  was  soon  dislodged. 

The  two  lines  of  battle  now  engaged  in  an  irregular  interchange 
of  bullets  through  the  timber  in  front.  The  enemy's  fire  grew  more 
continuous  and  heavy  which  was  evidence  that  their  lines  were  being 
strengthened.  It  was  now  5  o'clock  P.  M.  and  Ayers'  Division  was 
ordered  up  to  the  support  of  Crawford's,  and  while  moving  in  common 
was  suddenly  assailed  in  large  force  and  driven  back.  Crawford's 
Division  (in  which  was  the  Iron  Brigade)  was  heavily  engaged  on  his 
front  at  the  same  time.  At  six  o'clock  there  was  a  lull  in  the  battle 
and  preparations  made  to  receive  the  enemy,  as  a  charge  usually 
follows  such  periods  of  silence.  Presently  Mahone's  Division  which 
had  been  fighting  our  dismounted  cavalry  on  another  part  of  the 
field,  now  fell  suddenly  upon  the  left  of  the  Fifth  Corps  where  the 
Iron  Brigade  and  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  were  in  position.  The 
flank  resisted  for  a  moment,  but  to  no  avail.  It  was  crumbled  back 


CLOSING    MONTHS   OF   THE   WAR.  29 1 

upon  the  center.  The  ammunition  of  a  part  of  Crawford's  Division, 
at  this  critical  moment  became  exhausted.  This  portion  of  the  line 
broke  off  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  entire  line  was  in  confusion.  A 
division  from  the  Sixth  Corps  which  left  camp  in  the  morning,  now 
came  up,  and  the  fighting  became  desultory  but  desperate. 

The  country  between  Hatcher's  Run  and  Dabney's  Mill  was 
covered  with  heavy  timber,  the  ground  softened  by  numerous  swamps 
and  cut  up  by  ravines.  The  road  upon  which  the  columns  and  trains 
had  to  move  was  narrow,  filled  with  stumps  and  knee  deep  with  mud. 
A  slight  crust  of  frozen  surface  only  increased  the  difficulties,  and 
instead  of  being  fresh  for  battle,  the  men  were  tired  out  by  their  conflict 
with  the  mud.  Some  lost  their  shoes,  which  stuck  in  the  mire;  their 
clothing  was  dampened,  and  their  guns  in  some  cases,  rendered  unfit 
for  present  use. 

The  operations  of  the  troops  off  the  road  were  worse.  The 
ground  was  fresh,  the  timber  thick  and  netted  with  a  web  of 
undergrowth.  As  the  men  advanced  through  this  maze,  many  were 
laid  low  by  the  deliberate  fire  of  unseen  riflemen.  When  they  retired, 
the  roads  and  woods  were  alive  with  disorder.  The  men  fought  single 
handed  through  the  timber  from  tree  to  tree.  They  fell  back  out  of 
the  woods  into  the  open  on  the  Vaughn  Road.  The  lines  were  hastily 
re-formed  and  under  the  protection  of  some  temporary  works  awaited 
the  onslaught  of  the  enemy.  Soon  the  woods  in  front  bristled  with 
their  bayonets  as  they  dashed  out  into  the  clearing  in  front.  From 
their  works  the  Fifth  Corps  met  them  with  a  terrible  fire  which  caused 
them  to  retreat  hastily  through  the  woods. 

The  Iron  Brigade  opened  the  battle  and  General  Bragg's  orderly 
was  killed.  Crawford's  Division  did  most  of  the  fighting  of  the  day. 
It  was  one  of  the  most  stubborn  battles  the  Iron  Brigade  was  ever  in. 
They  drove  the  enemy  handsomely  for  two  miles,  but  his  sudden  and 
heavy  reinforcements  proved  too  much  for  this  division.  Having 
fallen  back  to  near  Hatcher's  Run,  night  ended  the  contest  and  the 
men  slept  on  their  arms.  Early  in  the  action,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Edwards'  horse  was  shot  under  him.  The  ball  passed  through  his 
boot-leg,  through  his  trousers  and  through  his  horse.  Colonel 
Edwards  also  received  a  ball  in  his  coat  but  he  himself  was  not 
wounded. 

Tuesday,  February  7.  The  weather  was  terribly  cold.  It  began 
to  rain  in  the  morning  and  there  was  a  cold  sleet  all  day.  Crawford's 
Division  moved  out  again  and  formed  its  lines  further  to  the  right, 
joining  the  Second  Corps.  The  line  advanced  into  some  woods  and 


2Q2  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

met  the  enemy,  who  opened  a  severe  artillery  fire.  A  solid  shot 
passed  directly  under  Sergeant  Augustus  Pomeroy,  which  stunned 
him  and  covered  him  with  mud.  The  same  shot  riocheting,  killed 
Sergeant  George  H.  Canfield  and  George  Wallace,  both  of  Company 
I ;  wounded  Sergeant  Walter  Morley  of  D  and  took  a  leg  off  of 
John  Danbert  of  D. 

The  Iron  Brigade  made  a  charge  towards  the  right  but  did  not 
take  the  enemy's  works.  John  Henderson  of  Company  G  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  was  killed  in  this  charge,  and  Edwin  J.  Ranger  was 
mortally  wounded,  the  last  man  killed  in  battle  in  the  regiment. 
Captain  B.  W7.  Hendricks  and  privates  George  W.  Wilson  and  Peter 
Bat  way,  all  of  Company  G,  were  injured  by  the  falling  of  a  tree  which 
had  been  severed  by  a  cannon  ball.  Adjutant  Lewis  H.  Chamberlin 
was  wounded  in  the  groin.  The  ball  struck  his  pocket  knife  and  bent 
it  nearly  double  which  doubtless  saved  him  from  a  fatal  wound. 
Another  ball  struck  in  his  boot  leg.  The  Adjutant  still  keeps  the 
bent  knife  as  a  sacred  war  relic. 

During  the  battle  Lieutenant-Colonel  Edwards  noticed  that  his 
men  had  ceased  firing  in  one  place.  They  were  helping  the  Seventh 
Wisconsin  men  bury  their  pet  dog  which  had  followed  them  from 
camp  to  field  and  was  always  sharing  his  chances  in  battle  with  the 
men,  knowing  no  fear.  This  day  a  minnie  ball  killed  him  and  the  men 
suspended  their  shooting  long  enough  to  give  their  pet  dog  an 
honorable  but  hasty  burial  amid  showers  of  bullets  from  the  enemy. 
The  Iron  Brigade  bivouacked  at  night  upon  the  field  till  one  o'clock 
Wednesday  morning,  the  8th,  when  it  fell  back  with  its  division  to 
the  east  side  of  Hatcher's  Run,  preceded  by  the  Sixth  Corps.  The 
other  divisions  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  as  well  as  the  Second  Corps,  held 
their  places  and  fortified  the  position  they  had  gained  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Run  which  was  thereafter  permanently  held  and  the  lines 
extended  thereto  in  the  direction  of  the  Southside  Railroad.  The 
enemy  made  no  attempt  to  follow  up  Crawford's  Division.  The 
weather  was  terribly  cold  and  the  men  suffered  much,  without  blankets 
or  tents.  After  laying  in  an  open  field  till  near  night,  the 
Twenty-fourth  moved  into  some  pine  woods  where  the  force  of  the 
wind  was  broken  and  the  men  bivouacked.  Crawford's  Division  was 
complimented  highly  for  its  conduct  in  the  recent  engagements.  It 
left  camp  Sunday  morning,  4,000  strong,  and  sustained  a  loss  of  1180. 

On  Thursday,  February  9,  three  officers  and  one  hundred  and 
twelve  men  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  were  sent  out  on  picket, 
the  last  of  this  kind  of  duty  during  the  war.  On  Friday,  the  loth, 


CLOSING    MONTHS   OF   THE    WAR.  293 

the  column,  early  in  the  morning,  moved  out  of  its  bivouac  towards 
its  old  camp,  but  was  soon  halted  beside  the  Vaughn  Road  and  all 
put  to  work  cutting  logs  for  a  corduroy  road,  the  engineers  putting 
them  in  place.  At  4:30  in  the  afternoon,  the  column  resumed  its 
march  for  camp  where  it  arrived  at  8  o'clock,  the  men  very  tired,  and 
the  band  playing  a  cheerful  welcome  home.  The  following  were  the 
casualties  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  at  the  Battle  of  Dabney's 
Mill,  February  6  and  /,  1865  ;  those  marked  with  a  star  being  injured 
on  the  6th  and  the  others  on  the  /th  : 


KILLED. 


ist  Sergt.  George  H.  Canfield,  I.  John  Henderson  (R.),  G. 

George  Wallace  (R.),  I.  Isaac  J.  Kibbee,  I.* 


MORTALLY    WOUNDED. 

Henry  Aldridge,  Recruit,  of  Company  E.* 

Edwin  J.  Ranger,  leg  amputated.     Last  man  wounded. 

OTHER    WOUNDED. 

Brevet  Brigadier-General  HENRY  A.    MORROW,*  severely  in  side  while  commanding 

Third  Brigade,  Third  Division,  Fifth  Army  Corps. 

Capt.  BENJAMIN  W.  HENDRICKS,  G.  James  L.  Fairweather  (R.),  D.* 

Adj't  LEWIS  H.  CHAMBERI.IN,  staff.  William  Barrett,  D. 

ist  Lieut.  AUGUSTUS  F.  ZIEGLER,  F.*  George  Dolan  (R.),  D. 

Sergt.  Augustus  Pomeroy,  C.  Charles  E.  Jenner,  F. 

"       Walter  S.  Morley,  D.  Peter  Batway,  G. 

Corp.    Herman  Stehfest,    arm    ampu-  George  W.  Wilson,  G. 

tated,  A.*  William  Smith,  G. 

"       Robert  C.  Bird,  ear,  D.*  Michael  Brabeau,  G. 

George  W.  Dingman,  (R.),  A.  James  Lynch  (R),  K. 

John  Danbert,  leg  ampt'd,  D. 

MISSING. 

Alexander  H.  Morrison,  H,  Orderly  to  General  Bragg. 

Summary:  —  Killed  and  died  of  wounds,  6;  other  wounded,  19;  missing,  i; 
Total,  26. 

The  following  is  from  the  editor  of  the  New  York  Times  : 

During  my  ride  in  and  about  the  different  corps,  I  missed  many  a  familiar  face 
and  had  to  mourn  the  loss  of  some  brave  spirits  who  have  fought  their  last  battle  or 
are  suffering  from  severe  wounds.  Among  the  latter  stands  foremost  Brevet 
Brigadier-General  Henry  A.  Morrow,  who  received  his  wound  while  heroically 
rallying  his  brigade,  battle  flag  in  hand,  after  a  temporary  disorganization  from  a 
partial  uncovering  of  his  flank.  General  Morrow  did  not  need  any  further  laurels  to 
render  his  name  greener  in  the  memory  of  his  comrades,  but  in  after  days  the  battle 
of  Hatcher's  Run  (Dabney's  Mill)  will  be  among  the  brightest  of  his  recollections. 


294  HISTORY  OF  THE  TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

LAST   NIGHT   AT   THE   FRONT. — JOURNEY  TO  SPRINGFIELD. 

Tired  and  weary  after  their  return  from  the  recent  hard  campaign, 
the  men  cooked  their  coffee  and  partook  of  their  frugal  evening  meal, 
glad  to  find  rest  in  comfortable  quarters.  There  were  vacant  cots  that 
night  in  their  little  cabins,  but  these  things  are  expected  when  they 
go  off  to  battle  from  their  camp.  An  order  later  in  the  evening 
dispelled  their  repose.  They  were  to  march  at  daylight  next  morning, 
with  all  their  baggage  and  camp  equipage,  to  the  new  line  of  works  on 
Hatcher's  Run.  This  meant  an  abandonment  of  present  cozy  winter 
houses  for  new  ones,  or  bivouac  in  open  fields  and  woods. 

Saturday  morning,  February  11,  1865,  came,  and  an  early  breakfast, 
the  last  in  their  little  cabins  at  "Camp  Crawford."  All  readiness  was 
made  to  move  at  6  o'clock  but  there  was  a  delay  for  several  hours  for 
some  reason,  when  orders  came  for  the  Iron  Brigade  to  report  at 
Warren  Station  at  noon,  to  go  to  Baltimore.  The  Secretary  of  War 
had  telegraphed  to  General  Grant  for  a  brigade  of  reliable  troops  to 
report  to  General  Halleck  for  special  service.  The  matter  was 
referred  to  General  Warren  who  selected  the  Iron  Brigade  (it  being 
the  First  Brigade,  Third  Division,  Fifth  Corps)  as  he  said:  "in  view 
of  their  long  and  gallant  services  on  many  a  well  contested  field  of 
battle,  and  especially  in  the  late  engagement,"  for  the  brunt  of  the 
attack  in  the  Dabney's  Mill  battle  fell  upon  this  Brigade.  The  order 
was  obeyed  with  no  less  wonder  than  alacrity.  By  mid-afternoon 
they  were  on  the  cars  moving  for  City  Point,  the  field  officers  riding 
down  on  horseback.  Before  dark  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  Sixth 
and  Seventh  Wisconsin  went  aboard  the  steamer  "  George  Weems," 
which  was  delayed  to  wait  for  headquarters'  baggage  and  detailed 
men  to  come  up. 

Sunday,  February  12.  Before  setting  sail,  the  orders  as  far  as 
related  to  the  Sixth  and  Seventh  Wisconsin,  were  countermanded  and 
these  regiments  left  the  boat  just  before  sunrise  and  returned  to  the 
front.  At  8  o'clock  the  boat  steamed  down  the  James  River  and 
arrived  at  Fortress  Monroe  at  5  o'clock,  where  it  had  to  anchor 
and  wait  for  the  wind  to  abate.  As  the  steamer  passed  Newport 
News,  there  could  be  seen  the  masts  of  the  Rebel  Pirate  Florida,  near 
the  spot  where  the  Cumberland  went  down,  and  where  the  haughty 
Merrimac  came  out  of  Norfolk  on  her  work  of  destruction,  when  she 
met  an  unexpected  but  equal  foe  in  the  hitherto  unknown  Monitor. 

Monday,  February  13.  The  wind  was  so  high  that  they  did  not 
leave  Fortress  Monroe  until  2  P.  M.,  when  the  boat  steamed  out  into 


CLOSING    MONTHS   OF   THE   WAR.  295 

the  Chesapeake.  The  bay  was  rough  and  it  was  very  cold.  Night  came 
on  with  no  fire  and  scarce  a  cup  of  coffee  to  a  dozen  men.  The  men 
tried  to  sleep  but  with  little  success,  not  a  soul  knowing  the  object  of 
their  sudden  departure  for  the  North.  The  ice  preventing 
the  boat  from  going  clear  up  to  Baltimore,  they  put  into 
Annapolis  at  8  o'clock  Tuesday  morning,  but  as  transportation  on  the 
cars  was  delayed,  the  troops  remained  aboard  the  boat  till  9  o'clock 
Wednesday  morning.  Going  ashore  they  proceeded  to  the  College 
Green  Barracks  for  coffee.  After  waiting  all  day  at  the  depot  amid  a 
drenching  rain,  they  boarded  the  cars  at  9  P.  M.  for  Baltimore,  where 
they  arrived  after  midnight  and  went  at  once  to  the  "Soldiers'  Rest," 
and  bunked  on  the  floors  till  morning. 

February  16.  At  breakfast  the  men  were  seated  at  tables,  the 
first  luxury  of  that  kind  the  most  of  the  veterans  had  experienced  for 
two  and  one  half  years.  It  set  them  to  counting  on  their  fingers  the 
few  remaining  months  of  their  enlistment  when  they  would  enjoy  the 
full  luxuries  of  their  home  firesides.  The  mystery  of  their  sudden 
departure  from  the  front  was  this  day  solved  by  an  order  sending  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  to  Camp  Butler,  near  Springfield,  Illinois, 
that  being  the  rendezvous  for  drafted  men.  They  were  to  do  guard 
duty  there,  and  meanwhile  recruit  their  meager  ranks  to  the  maximum 
limit.  After  collecting  all  the  men  detached  to  Battery  B,  the 
Pioneer  and  Stretcher  Corps,  there  were  found  to  be,  with  the  recruits 
and  convalescents,  three  hundred  and  eighteen  men  and  officers  and 
fourteen  horses.  Only  about  one  hundred  of  the  men  were  with  the 
Regiment  when  it  left  Detroit. 

February  17.  After  breakfast  at  the  "  Rest,"  the  Regiment 
moved  to  the  depot  to  take  cars  for  the  West.  Late  in  the  afternoon 
the  cars  arrived,  loaded  with  five  hundred  Confederate  prisoners  from 
Camp  Douglass,  Chicago.  They  were  all  strong  and  hearty,  with  no 
evidence  of  ill-treatment,  and  very  unlike  the  emaciated  forms  of 
our  Union  prisoners  who  returned  from  Andersonville  and  other 
Southern  pens,  utterly  unfit  for  duty  from  hunger  and  disease 
resulting  from  exposure  and  starvation.  Many  of  the  Secesh  women 
of  the  city  came  to  see  and  feed  them,  and  felt  exceedingly  indignant 
because  they  were  not  allowed  to  give  dainties  to  their  friends. 
Smiles  only  could  they  bestow  through  the  line  of  Federal  bayonets 
which  prevented  oral  intercourse.  But  for  the  little  fragment  of  a 
regiment  that  had  fought  for  their  homes  for  two  and  a  half  years, 
these  Secesh  females  had  nothing  but  frowns.  Finally  at  6  P.  M.  the 
men  on  the  slow  cars  moved  away.  At  York,  Penn.,  the  engine  gave 


296  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

out  and  it  was  8  o'clock  in  the  morning  when  they  reached  Harrisburg. 
February  18  was  spent  moving  westward  over  the  Alleghanies  Uy 
the  same  route  the  men  went  to  the  front  in  August,  1862.  It  was 
midnight  ere  the  men  reached  the  "Soldier's  Home"  at  Pittsburg  for 
supper.  The  originals  of  the  regiment  were  reminded  of  the  warm 
reception  given  them  on  our  journey  to  the  front.  Leaving  this 
smoky  town  at  daylight,  on  Sunday  morning  the  igth,  all  day  the 
train  moved  through  Ohio,  the  Buckeye  girls  not  failing  to  wave  the 
returning  soldiers  a  welcome  as  warm  as  the  good  speed  they  gave  us 
when  we  passed  through  to  the  seat  of  war.  Passing  through  Alliance, 
Crestline,  and  other  Ohio  towns,  the  train  arrived  at  Fort  Wayne, 
Indiana,  at  3  o'clock  Monday  morning, 'and  started  for  Springfield  at 
8  o'clock,  in  box  cars  without  stoves.  All  day  and  night  they  slowly 
journeyed  at  freight  train  speed,  via  Logansport,  through  the  Hoosier 
State,  and  at  8  o'clock  arrived  at  their  destination. 

CAMP   BUTLER — NEW    FLAG  —  SICKNESS — RECRUITS  —  GENERAL 

SITUATION. 

Tuesday,  February  21.  The  regiment  proceeded  to  the  barracks 
at  Camp  Butler  and  found  them  and  the  camp  in  a  terribly  filthy 
condition.  There  were  about  6,000  men  in  the  camp  waiting  to  be 
distributed  to  the  different  regiments  at  the  front.  It  became  the 
duty  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  to  guard  these  men  that  none 
should  leave  camp  without  authority,  and  for  the  next  few  weeks, 
details  of  officers  and  men  of  the  Twenty-fourth  were  sent  to  conduct 
detachments  of  drafted  men  and  recruits  to  Cairo,  Nashville, 
Washington,  New  York  and  other  points. 

February  22.  Major  Hutchinson  arrived  in  camp  this  day  with  a 
new  flag  for  the  regiment  —  a  present  from  the  citizens  of  Detroit, 
Colonel  Flanigan  supervising  the  matter.  The  body  of  the  flag  is  of 
blue  banner  silk,  double  skirted  with  heavy  gold,  and  six  feet  square. 
In  the  center  is  the  State  Coat  of  Arms,  over  which  is  the  name  of  the 
regiment.  The  four  corners  are  ornamented  with  the  names  of  the 
different  battles  in  which  the  regiment  had  fought.  It  was  made  by 
Tiffany  &  Co.,  of  New  York,  at  a  cost  of  $1,200,  and  for  twenty-six 
years  it  has  been  carefully  preserved  by  the  survivors  of  the  regiment. 
The  old  flag,  riddled  and  torn,  and  worn  from  exposure  in  battle,  camp 
and  field,  was  borne  by  the  men  until  their  return  home,  and  was 
eventually  placed  with  the  colors  of  the  other  Michigan  regiments  in 
the  capitol  at  Lansing. 


CLOSING    MONTHS    OF   THE   WAR.  297 

As  the  days  and  weeks  passed  by,  the  improper  drainage  of  this 
prairie  camp  (really  no  drainage  at  all),  and  its  muddy  and  filthy 
condition,  had  their  natural  effects  upon  the  health  of  the  men.  In 
some  respects,  Camp  Butler  was  more  unpleasant  and  its  duties  more 
arduous  than  at  the  front,  and  officers  and  men  sighed  for  their 
Petersburg  winter  quarters.  The  sickness  of  the  men  continued  and 
the  insufficient  hospital  accommodations  made  matters  worse,  so  that 
within  two  months  after  the  arrival  of  the  regiment  at  Camp  Butler, 
thirty-three  of  its  number  had  died,  mainly  from  disease  contracted  in 
this  unhealthy  place.  In  a  detachment  of  recruits  sent  to  Washington, 
one  boy  died  on  the  train  only  five  miles  from  his  home.  He  had  been 
kept  in  the  hospital  until  death  stood  by  his  side,  entreating  that  he 
might  go  home  to  die  among  his  friends,  but  was  at  last  sent  away 
only  to  die  on  the  road. 

The  recruits  and  drafted  men  had  not  so  fine  a  time  escaping  as 
before  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  arrived.  Prior  to  their  arrival, 
1, 600  had  jumped  the  guard  and  escaped  ;  but  now,  they  found  it  far 
more  difficult  to  jump  the  bounty  or  the  fence.  Large  sums  as 
bribes  were  offered  our  men  to  allow  these  bounty  substitutes  and 
drafted  men  to  escape,  but  to  the  honor  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  every 
member  proved  incorruptible.  The  insufficiency  of  the  guards  had 
compelled  a  veteran  regiment  to  be  brought  from  the  front  whose 
members  were  not  afraid  to  shoot,  and  some  of  the  guarded  men 
learned  this  to  their  sorrow.  One  fellow  had  his  fingers  blown  off  by 
one  of  our  guards  while  trying  to  escape  from  the  cars  on  the  way  to 
the  front. 

About  the  middle  of  March,  eight  Sergeants  went  to  Michigan  to 
obtain  recruits  to  fill  the  ranks  of  the  regiment  to  its  maximum.  A  few 
days  only  elapsed  when  this  was  accomplished,  on  the  2pth  of  March, 
1865,  and  the  complement  of  ten  Second  Lieutenants  was  soon  after 
allowed.  Thus  the  regiment  was  again  with  full  ranks,  ready  to  help 
wind  up  the  rebellion.  But  this  privilege  was  denied  it,  for  in  eleven 
days  more  an  event  occurred  which  startled  the  world  and  brought 
the  terrible  four  years  of  bloodshed  to  a  close.  Had  this  not  been  so, 
the  Twenty-fourth  would  have  returned  to  the  theater  of  war  and  it 
was  no  fault  of  its  own  that  it  had  no  part  in  the  closing  struggle. 
But  its  history  was  already  rounded  up  in  full  measure  with  a  most 
heroic  and  honorable  record  which  was  in  no  wise  diminished  by  its 
absence  from  the  scenes  of  final  victory.  It  had  other  duties  as 
important  and  sacred.  We  will  leave  the  regiment  at  Camp  Butler 


298  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN. 

for  a  time  and  return  to  an  acount  of  the  final  .days  of  the  rebellion,  in 
the  field.  • 

After  the  capture  of  Savannah,  General  Sherman  allowed  his 
army  a  month's  rest  and  then  proceeded  northward  through  the 
Carolinas  towards  Virginia,  writing  on  the  bosom  of  the  country,  as 
when  he  went  through  Georgia,  in  letters  forty  miles  long,  the 
penalties  of  treason  and  rebellion.  Desolation  marked  his  route,  and 
by  the  middle  of  March,  1865,  his  army  was  resting  near  Goldsboro, 
N.  C. 

The  omens  of  defeat  were  plainly  written  against  the 
Confederacy.  Its  armies  were  gradually  diminishing  from  disease  and 
desertion  with  no  hope  of  recruitment  except  from  the  slaves  whose 
freedom,  however,  was  denied  for  such  proposed  service.  Then  too, 
the  people  of  the  South  had  begun  to  separate  themselves  from  the 
war  policy  of  their  leaders,  knowing  that  failure  must  eventually 
attend  the  cause  for  which  they  had  already  sacrificed  so  much. 

The  scattered  forces  of  the  Confederate  armies  along  the 
seaboard  were  gathered  to  oppose  Sherman,  and  placed  under  the 
command  of  the  deposed  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston.  And  thus, 
while  Sherman  was  resting  and  holding  in  his  front  the  main  insurgent 
army  aside  from  Lee's  troops,  Grant  was  free  to  take  the  offensive 
against  the  forces  about  Petersburg  and  Richmond,  which  he  did 
during  the  last  days  of  March.  Already  had  Fort  Fisher  been 
captured,  and  Wilmington,  Charleston,  Savannah,  Columbia  and  the 
chief  cities  of  the  South  fallen  into  Union  hands.  And  still  the 
Confederate  authorities  insisted  upon  holding  out  which  could  only 
result  in  a  further  useless  effusion  of  blood.  Lee  could  see  no  hope 
in  remaining  at  Richmond  and  Petersburg,  and  sought  to  break 
through  the  National  lines  and  unite  with  Johnston's  army.  Fort 
Steadman  was  situated  not  more  than  one  hundred  yards  from  the 
Confederate  intrenchments  near  the  extreme  right  of  Grant's  army, 
and  this  was  the  point  selected  to  capture  and  open  a  door  for  escape. 
On  March  24,  Lee  massed  20,000  men  for  the  attack.  They  captured 
the  fort  and  turned  its  guns  upon  the  Union  lines,  but  the  fort  was 
immediately  retaken  with  a  severe  loss  to  the  enemy. 

BATTLE    OF   WHITE   OAK     ROAD. 

All  being  in  readiness  for  the  grand  move  forward,  already 
inaugurated  by  Lee's  attack,  several  hours  before  daylight  on  the 
morning  of  March  29,  the  Fifth  Corps  troops  left  their  trenches  and 


CLOSING    MONTHS    OF   THE   WAR. 


299 


camps  and  marched  away  to  Reams'  Station  and  thence  to  Monk's 
Neck  Bridge  over  the  Rowanty.  After  a  halt  to  let  the  cavalry  pass, 
it  moved  by  the  right  flank  up  the  Quaker  Road.  The  Corps  was 
under  its  cautious  and  skillful  commander  General  G.  K.  Warren  who 


GENERAL  GOVERNOUR   G.  K.  WARREN. 


had  no  superior  as  a  corps  commander  since  the  death  of  General 
Reynolds.  This  corps,  which  was  the  old  First,  was  again,  as  often 
before,  put  at  the  front.  It  was  a  difficult  march  owing  to  a  prevailing 
rainstorm.  Soon  after  crossing  Rowanty  Creek  (which  is  formed  by 
the  junction  of  Hatcher's  Run  and  the  Gravelly  Run),  General 
Warren  encountered  the  enemy  and  had  a  sharp  brush  with  them,  his 
corps  losing. three  hundred  and  seventy  men. 

After  the  departure  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  for  the  North, 
the  Sixth  and  Seventh  Wisconsin  of  the  Iron  Brigade  returned  to 
their  old  camp  in  this  corps  and  were  placed  under  the  command  of 
Colonel  Kellogg,  of  the  Sixth  Wisconsin.  On  March  5,  the  Ninety- 
First  New  York  Heavy  Artillery  were  added  to  it,  and  altogether  now 


300  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

with  the  new  recruits  numbered  about  3,000  men.  It  contained  the 
veteranized  members  of  the  old  regiments  and  was  once  more  a  strong 
factor.  It  was  officially  known  as  the  "  First  Provisional  Brigade," 
but  the  name  "Iron  Brigade"  the  men  still  clung  to,  and  it  was  so 
called  at  all  times  except  on  the  records.  On  this  day  it  moved  with 
the  Fifth  Corps  to  near  the  Boydton  Plank  Road,  and  formed  the 
first  line  of  battle  in  front  of  the  Second  Brigade.  The  enemy  having 
been  driven  from  his  position  the  Seventh  Wisconsin  was  placed  on 
the  road  and  the  rest  of  the  Brigade  a  short  distance  in  the  rear  in  line 
with  the  Fifth  Corps  in  front  of  the  Confederate  works. 

During  the  night  Lee  strongly  reinforced  this  part  of  his  line 
along  the  Boydton  Plank.  Thus  strengthened,  on  the  3Oth,  Lee 
struck  the  Fifth  Corps  a  stunning  blow,  and  it  recoiled  for  a  time, 
but  recovering  itself  with  the  aid  of  Miles'  Division  of  the  Second 
Corps,  forced  the  enemy  behind  his  intrenched  position  in  front  of 
the  White  Oak  Road  west  of  Burgess'  Mills.  The  Iron  Brigade  during 
the  day  threw  up  breastworks.  On  the  3ist  a  very  severe  engagement 
occurred  for  the  possession  of  the  enemy's  works  along  the  White 
Oak  Road.  In  this  affair,  the  Iron  Brigade  moved  from  their  breast 
works  in  a  northwest  direction  across  Gravelly  Run,  where  it  was 
massed  in  column  of  regiments  for  a  time  when  the  Sixth  and 
Seventh  Wisconsin  were  ordered  to  arrest  the  men  falling  back  in 
confusion.  They  closed  the  interval,  formed  line  of  battle  and  opened 
fire  on  the  enemy  until  the  latter  turned  both  their  flanks  when  the 
brigade  retired  across  Gravelly  Run  being  compelled  to  fight  their 
way  back.  They  were  formed  in  line  next  to  the  creek  and  moved 
forward  again  onto  the  battle-field. 

The  Fifth  Corps,  led  by  General  Warren,  sustained  a  loss  of 
nearly  1,500  in  the  fighting  of  this  day  but  was  very  successful.  Alone 
and  at  a  disadvantage,  by  the  superior  skill  of  Warren  and  the  never 
failing  intrepidity  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  it  had  driven  the  enemy  back 
from  their  works  and  possessed  them,  making  the  victory  of  the 
following  day  an  easy  matter.  General  Sheridan  had  advanced  from 
Dinwiddie  Court  House  to  Five  Forks,  but  when  the  enemy  were 
driven  back  in  front  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  they  fell  back  on  Five  Forks 
compelling  Sheridan  to  return  to  Dinwiddie  Court  House.  Attempts 
have  been  made  for  reasons  that  will  appear  further  on  in  this 
narrative,  to  ignore  this  day's  battle  and  its  very  name  —  but  the  pen 
of  history  is  a  great  adjuster,  and  will  insist  that  its  name  and  the 
General  who  successfully  directed  the  Corps  that  fought  it,  shall  be 
accorded  the  honor  and  credit  of  the  victory.  It  was  General  Warren 


CLOSING    MONTHS   OF   THE   WAR.  3<DI 

and  the  Fifth  Corps  who  won  the  battle  of  WHITE  OAK  ROAD. 
For  three  days  had  this  corps  been  fighting  and  paved  the  way  for  the 
sweeping  victory  the  next  day  at  Five  Forks. 


BATTLE   OF   FIVE    FORKS. 

Somewhat  farther  down  on  the  White  Oak  Road  is  a  place  called 
Five  Forks,  situated  in  the  woods,  and  so  named  from  the  fact  that 
five  roads  diverge  from  this  point  as  a  center.  In  its  vicinity  was  the 
Confederate  right,  to  turn  which  was  the  object  of  this  campaign,  and 
cut  off  Lee  from  the  Southside  Railroad,  thus  compelling  the 
evacuation  of  Richmond  and  Petersburg.  During  the  three  preceding 
days,  March  29,  30  and  31,  while  Warren  had  been  operating 
successfully  in  his  front,  Sheridan  had  less  success  about  Dinwiddie 
Court  House  with  his  cavalry.  The  next  day,  April  I,  Warren  was 
ordered  to  go  to  the  support  of  Sheridan,  who  seemed  to  expect  quite 
as  much  speed  from  infantry  as  cavalry,  at  this  time.  The  Fifth  Corps 
was  delayed  to  admit  the  building  of  a  bridge  over  an  unfordable 
stream  and  did  not  get  up  as  soon  as  Sheridan  expected  or  desired, 
ostensibly.  Upon  its  arrival,  Sheridan,  as  senior  officer,  assumed 
command  of  the  whole.  '  Such  disposition  of  all  the  troops  were 
made  that  with  the  very  opening  of  the  battle  at  4  P.  M.,  the 
Confederate  route  began,  and  by  7  o'clock  the  battle  had  become 
history  with  5,000  Confederates  as  prisoners. 

During  this  day  the  Iron  Brigade  moved  in  a  westerly  direction  to 
Gravelly  Run  Church.  In  the  afternoon  the  Seventh  Wisconsin 
occupied  the  advance  line  on  the  left  of  the  Brigade  with  the  Sixth 
Wisconsin  on  the  right.  Advancing  in  line,  with  two  companies  of 
the  Seventh  as  skirmishers,  the  enemy's  advance  was  driven  through 
the  woods  to  their  intrenchments  at  Five  Forks.  Colonel  Richardson 
of  the  Seventh  was  ordered  to  move  over  the  enemy's  works,  and  the 
gallant  Colonel  obeyed.  Wheeling  to  the  right,  the  enemy  was 
charged  through  the  open  field,  through  some  woods  and  a  second 
open  field.  At  night  the  Brigade  fell  back  and  took  position  behind 
the  breastworks  captured  from  the  enemy. 

At  night,  after  the  battle  had  been  won,  partly  that  day  by  the 
efforts  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  in  which  General  Warren  led  the  van  of 
the  charging  column,  and  whose  horse  was  fatally  shot  under  him  but 
a  few  feet  from  the  enemy's  breastworks,  the  latter  officer  received  a 
note  from  Sheridan  relieving  him  of  his  command.  The  latter  had 
beome  impatient  at  Warren's  seeming  but  unavoidable  delay  in 


302  HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

the  morning,  in  getting  his  Corps  onto  the  field,  and  also 
professed  that  he  did  not  skillfully  handle  his  troops.  Now, 
while  Sheridan  did  much  for  his  country,  which  will  weave  for  him  its 
choicest  garlands,  still  we  firmly  believe  that  in  this  instance  he  acted 
impetuously,  a  belief  shared  by  the  entire  Fifth  Corps.  Warren's 
Corps  had  been  marching  and  fighting  for  three  days  and  nights  and 
their  speed  could  not  approach  to  that  of  cavalry.  Again  the  easy 
victory  of  this  day  had  already  been  secured  by  Warren's  Corps,  of 
whom  and  of  whose  success,  Sheridan  evinced  a  jealousy  in  merging 
the  four  days'  fighting  under  the  one  name  of  Five  Forks,  claiming 
the  whole  honor  himself,  after  dishonoring  the  General  who  did  far 
more  than  himself  to  obtain  this  victory.  In  subsequent  years  a 
Court  of  Inquiry  completely  exonerated  Warren  from  all  blame  on 
this  occasion,  which  action  speaks  more  emphatically  of  Warren's 
good  name  and  fame,  than  any  language  we  can  employ  here.  But 
the  ill-treatment  of  his  superior  undoubtedly  was  the  cause  of  his 
premature  death. 

RICHMOND    EVACUATED  —  SURRENDER   OF   LEE. 

On  Sunday,  April  2,  the  Confederate  lines  about  Petersburg  were 
cannonaded  and  the  enemy  driven  into  their  inner  works.  At  the 
same  time  the  Southside  Railroad  was  cut  and  then  for  the  first  time 
was  the  insurgent  "  President "  made  aware  of  the  "  Crack  of  doom  " 
for  the  Confederacy.  During  divine  service,  an  Aide  from  General 
Lee  passed  up  the  Church  aisle,  in  Richmond,  to  the  pew  of  Jefferson 
Davis  and  handed  him  a  message,  stating  that  the  results  of  the 
morning's  fighting  would  compel  the  evacuation  of  Petersburg  and  the 
Confederate  Capital  that  night.  His  pale  face,  as  he  slowly  arose  and 
left  the  church,  plainly  disclosed  the  import  of  the  dispatch.  The 
services  were  prematurely  closed  and  pandemonium  reigned  in  that 
Southern  Babylon,  as  when  Cyrus  marched  his  army  by  night,  into 
that  amazed  city,  by  the  bed  of  the  diverted  Euphrates. 

That  night  Lee  withdrew  his  forces  toward  the  west,  the  only 
outlet  left  to  him,  hoping  to  unite  with  Johnston's  army  in  North 
Carolina  and  thus  prolong  the  war.  The  Federal  army  was  close  in 
pursuit.  On  Sunday  morning  the  2d,  the  Iron  Brigade  advanced  to 
the  Southside  Railroad  to  find  the  enemy's  position  abandoned.  This 
was  thirteen  miles  west  of  Petersburg.  The  Brigade  advanced  rapidly 
in  a  westerly  direction  and  found  the  enemy  intrenched  on  the 
Burkesville  road.  The  Brigade  was  deployed  to  the  right  of  the  road 


CLOSING   MONTHS   OF   THE    WAR.  303 

as  skirmishers.     After  dark  the  enemy  opened  fire  on  their  lines  which 
was  replied  to  and   the  command  advanced  and  halted  within  a  few 
rods  of  their  breastworks  where  they  lay  on  their  arms  for  the  night. 
During  the  night  the  enemy  withdrew    and    were    pursued    but    not 
overtaken.     The  Iron  Brigade  went   into   bivouac.     On   the  morning 
of  the  4th   the  pursuit   was  resumed  to  Jettersville  on   the   Danville 
Railroad,  where  the   Brigade  was  formed   in   line  of  battle,  the  men 
weary    and     footsore,     after    travelling    all     day    and     throwing    up 
breastworks  all  night.     Here  they  rested   until   the   6th  when  it  was 
found  that  the  enemy  had   again  taken   flight.     Pursuit  was  renewed 
during  the  6th  and  7th  on  the  west  side  of  the  Appomattox.     They 
reached  High  Railroad  Bridge  when  the  enemy    had  fired  the  bridge. 
Another  chase  on  the  8th  proved  a  long  and  wearisome  march  after  the 
fleeing    insurgents.       On  Sunday  morning  the   pursuit   was   resumed 
until  the    enemy    was   reached,    completely    hemmed    in.     Sheridan's 
cavalry  had   got    around   him    and    lay   squarely    across    his  path,   at 
Appomattox  Court  House.     Cut  off  from  escape  in   every   direction, 
Lee  assented,  at  the  proposal   of  Grant,   to  a  surrender  of  his  entire 
army.     The  terms  were  the  most  liberal.     The  men  were  permitted  to 
take  their  horses  and  the  officers  their  side  arms  ;  all  to  return  to  their 
homes,  not  to  be    disturbed   by    United    States   authority  as  long  as 
they  respected  their  paroles  and  obeyed  the  laws  in   force  where  they 
resided.     Lee's  sword  was  neither  asked  for  nor  tendered,  as  the  terms 
of   the  capitulation   allowed   him  to  keep  it  and  preserved  him  from 
arrest  for  trial  and  punishment.     Whatever  perfidy   should  attach  to 
his  name,  after  having  been  educated  by  his  government  and  having 
taken  an  oath  to  defend  it,  then  to  violate  his  oath,  turn  traitor  to  his 
country  and  help  deluge  the  land  in  blood,  would  not  excuse  the  United 
States  Government  in  violating  its  terms  of  capitulation  offered  Lee 
and  his  troops  by  its  representative,  General  Grant. 

So  soon  as  the  surrender  was  made  known,  salvos  of  Union 
artillery  began  to  reverberate  through  the  hills  in  exultation  of  the 
event,  but  an  Aide  from  Grant  at  once  ordered  the  firing  to  cease,  as 
the  surrendered  forces  were  to  be  treated  as  equals  in  a  Republic  and 
not  as  conquered  foes  with  rights  abridged.  The  men  of  the  two 
armies  mingled  together,  and  all  were  fed  from  the  Union  commissary, 
glad  that  the  terrible  struggle  of  four  long  'years  was  ended.  It  was 
not  unlike  the  scene  at  the  close  of  a  Roman  civil  war  in  centuries 
agone,  when  the  soldiers  of  the  opposing  armies  bound  up  each  other's 
wounds  and  friendship  prevailed  around  common  camp  fires,  care 

(20) 


304 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICEIIGAN. 


being  taken  not  to  offend  the  valor  that  had  won  their  admiration  on 
many  a  field.  General  rejoicing  prevailed  throughout  the  North. 
Bells  were  rung,  cannon  fired,  and  illuminations  lighted  the  skies  in 
town  and  village. 

ASSASSINATION    OF   LINCOLN. — CLOSE    OF   THE    WAR. 

Scarcely  had  the  loud  acclaim  ceased  ere  the  nation  was  plunged 
into  the  deepest  grief  and  the  world  startled  by  the  crime  of  ages  — 
the  wicked  assassination  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  at  once  the  most  abused 
and  best  loved  President  the  nation  ever  had,  on  the  night  of  April 
14,  1865.  Long  did  the  people  refuse  to  be  comforted,  though 
sympathetic  messages  came  from  every  country  and  the  isles  of  the 


ABRAHAM     LINCOLN. 


sea.  They  had  learned  to  confide  in  his  candor  and  wisdom,  and  to 
regard  him  as  a  safe  master  to  pilot  them  out  of  the  stormy  tempest 
of  war.  His  honest  and  wise  statesmanship  illustrates  history  with 
the  choicest  gems,  and  the  wisdom  he  displayed  was  as  wonderful  as 


CLOSING   MONTHS   OF    THE   WAR.  305 

Solomon's  in  his  day.  As  the  secret  chapters  of  the  sad  war  days  are 
unfolded,  they  discover  a  wisdom  in  his  direction  of  the  affairs  with 
which  he  had  to  do,  that  indicates  a  more  than  human  foresight. 
Confessedly  he  was  the  man  for  the  hour  and  occasion — God's 
instrument  for  the  annihilation  of  the  cause  of  the  war,  African 
Slavery.  Grace  sufficient  he  had,  of  native  or  divine  power,  to  break 
the  chains  of  bondage  and  let  the  slaves  go  free.  In  his  death  the 
South,  which  had  made  his  election  the  occasion  for  secession  and 
war,  lost  its  best  friend  and  the  grief  manifested  there  was  Lincoln's 
proudest  triumph.  His  memory  with  his  last  inaugural  message  to 
the  Nation,  "  With  malice  towards  none  and  charity  for  all,"  will  go 
down  the  ages  with  that  of  Washington  and  William  The  Silent,  only 
to  grow  brighter  with  advancing  time. 

Appropriate  ceremonies  were  held  in  every  locality.  The  body 
of  the  martyred  President  was  conveyed  amid  general  mourning  to 
his  home  at  Springfield,  111.,  from  whence  he  had  departed  four  years 
before  with  such  a  sad  heart.  We  may  well  recall  his  prophetic  words 
on  that  occasion.  To  his  neighbors,  who  had  assembled  at  the  depot 
to  bid  him  good-bye,  from  the  platform  of  his  car  he  spoke  as  follows: 

My  Friends:  No  one  not  in  my  position  can  appreciate  the  sadness  I  feel  at  this 
parting.  To  this  people  I  owe  all  that  I  am.  Here  I  have  lived  over  a  quarter  of  a 
century.  Here  my  children  were  born  and  here  one  of  them  lies  buried.  I  know  not 
how  soon  I  shall  see  you  again.  A  duty  devolves  upon  me  which  is  perhaps  greater 
than  that  which  has  devolved  upon  any  other  man  since  the  days  of  Washington.  He 
never  would  have  succeeded  except  for  the  aid  of  Divine  Providence,  upon  which  he 
at  all  times  relied.  I  feel  that  I  cannot  succeed  without  the  same  Divine  aid  which 
sustained  him.  and  in  the  same  Almighty  Being  I  place  my  reliance  for  support ;  and 
I  hope  you.  my  friends,  will  all  pray  that  I  may  receive  that  Divine  assistance, 
without  which  1  cannot  succeed,  but  with  which  success  is  certain.  Again,  I  bid  you 
all  an  affectionate  farewell. 

On  May  4th,  the  mortal  remains  of  the  nation's  martyred  chief 
were  borne  to  the  grave  amid  the  profound  sorrow  of  his  friends  to 
whom  he  had  addressed  the  above  words  which,  like  his  Gettysburg 
speech,  seemed  to  have  been  the  gift  of  that  Divine  guidance  on  which 
he  relied.  The  solemn  duty  of  performing  the  martial  rites  at  his 
funeral  devolved  upon  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  Infantry  which 
formed  his  funeral  escort. 

CLOSE   OF   THE   WAR. 

The  surrender  of  Lee's  army  was  but  the  prelude  for  the 
remaining  armies  of  the  defunct  Confederacy  to  lay  down  their  arms 
on  the  best  obtainable  terms,  which  however,  were  very  similar  to 


306 


HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


those  granted  to  Lee  and  his  troops.  In  the  course  of  a  few  weeks, 
every  insurgent  gun  and  munition  of  war  was  in  possession  of  the 
national  government,  and  'the  soldiers  composing  the  Confederate 
armies  had  peaceably  disbanded  to  their  homes.  But  Jefferson  Davis 
and  a  few  followers  escaped  from  Richmond  and  were  determined  to 
prolong  the  hopeless  struggle.  His  capture  a  month  later  by  the 
Fourth  Michigan  Cavalry  in  the  ridiculous  attire  of  a  female,  was  a 
retributive  ending  of  the  "Lost  cause,"  and  a  fitting  disgrace  to  this 
prisoner-starving  traitor.  The  national  flag  was  again  triumphant 
through  all  the  land  and  the  war  was  closed. 


HOME   OF  ABRAHAM   LINCOLN,   SPRINGFIELD.    ILL. 


CHAPTER    XV. 


THE  ARMIES  DISBANDED. 


LETTER   OF   GENERAL   MORROW. 

soon  after  the  surrender  of  the  insurgent  forces,  both 
the  armies  of  Grant  and  Sherman  were  headed  for 
Washington.  General  Henry  A.  Morrow,  by  order,  left  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  at  Springfield  the  day  that  Lincoln 
was  assassinated,  to  assume  command  of  the  Iron  Brigade.  The 
following  letter  from  him,  written  soon  after  to  Adjutant  Chamberlin  is 
expressive  of  occurring  events  in  those  days: 

HEADQUARTERS  FIRST  BRIGADE,  THIRD  DIVISION,  FIFTH  CORPS,  | 
NEAR  ARLINGTON,  VA.,  May  ig,  1865.      f 
My  Dear  Adjutant: 

I  have  not  forgotten  my  promise  to  write  you,  but  since  I  rejoined  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  we  have  been  constantly  on  the  march  until  within  the  last  few  days, 
and  there  has  been  no  opportunity  for  writing.  You  will  be  interested,  I  think,  in  a 
slight  description  of  the  homeward  march  of  the  victorious  army  and  I  will  attempt  to 
give  you  some  idea  of  it.  You  know  of  course,  that  I  have  been  assigned  to  the  command 
of  the  "Iron  Brigade."  I  was  well  received  by  both  officers  and  men,  and  soon  felt 
as  much  at  home  as  though  I  had  been  in  the  bosom  of  the  Twenty-fourth.  God  bless 
you  ! 

When  I  rejoined  the  Brigade,  it  was  at  Black  and  White's  Station,  on  the 
Southside  Railroad,  about  sixty  miles  from  Petersburg.  Army  headquarters  were  at 
Burksville,  thirteen  miles  beyond.  You  remember  that,  to  the  mind  of  the  soldier, 
Burksville  was  a  famous  place.  It  contains  a  tavern,  a  grocery,  a  blacksmith  shop 
and  a  half  dozen  dilapidated  buildings  besides.  The  station  has  been  destroyed. 
Black  and  White  exists  only  in  name.  Nothing  but  the  ruins  remained  to  show  that 
any  human  habitation  had  ever  been  there. 

On  the  ist  of  May,  orders  were  received  to  take  up  the  homeward  march  via 
Petersburg,  Richmond,  Hanover  Court  House,  Bowling  Green  and  Fredericksburg. 
The  country  around  Black  and  White  is  very  beautiful.  '  Though  early  spring  at  the 
North,  here  the  roses  were  in  full  bloom,  and  the  fruit  such  as  apples,  peaches,  etc., 
were  as  large  as  peas. 

Our  march  was  one  of  triumph.  The  Grand  Old  Army  of  the  Potomac  felt, 
every  man  of  them,  that  they  were  heroes,  and  every  step  was  firm  and  elastic  as 
became  the  soldiers  of  a  hundred  battles.  The  Iron  Brigade,  especially,  felt  glorious 
and  your  humble  servant  as  he  marched  through  Petersburg  with  banners  flying  and 
music  playing,  felt  proud  of  his  country  and  its  deeds.  I  marched  the  Brigade 

(30?) 


308  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH  MICHIGAN. 

through  the  city  by  platoon  front,  closed  en  masse,  at  a  right  shoulder  shift.  It  was 
conceded  that  our  Brigade  made  a  grand  appearance.  The  sidewalks  were  lined  with 
people  but  they  were  generally  Northern  men. 

On  the  4th  the  corps  encamped  at  Manchester,  which  is  a  small  place  on  the 
James  River  opposite  Richmond.  The  bridges  had  been  destroyed,  but  a  pontoon 
bridge  connected  the  two  places.  From  our  camp  the  city  of  Richmond  was  in  full 
view,  especially  the  Capitol  which  stands  on  the  highest  of  the  seven  hills  upon  which 
the  city  is  built.  The  American  flag,  our  own  stars  and  stripes,  floated  from  the 
flag-staff  from  which  but  a  few  days  before  the  rebel  banner  floated  triumphantly  in 
the  sunset  air  of  heaven.  Every  eye  was  strained  to  catch  the  first  view  of  Richmond, 
so  long  the  object  of  our  hopes  ;  of  Libby  Prison,  Castle  Thunder,  the  Capitol,  the 
residence  of  the  late  Jefferson  Davis  and  the  Spottswood  House.  The  Libby  Prison 
was  visited  by  thousands  of  our  troops.  The  notorious  Major  Dick  Turner,  the 
infamous  Rebel  jailor,  was  confined  in  the  cell  in  which  he  so  often  confined  our 
officers. 

Libby  is  a  large  tobacco  warehouse  and,  unless  it  was  crowded,  would  by  no 
means  be  an  unpleasant  prison.  It  was  crowded,  and  facilities  for  keeping  clean  not 
being  afforded,  the  condition  of  its  inmates  was  no  doubt  wretched  enough,  as  the 
condition  of  all  prisoners  is,  beyond  question.  Turner  was  the  only  prisoner  now  in 
this  once  famous  prison.  As  we  walked  through  the  rooms,  our  footsteps  resounding 
through  the  now  empty  building,  one  could  not  but  contrast  in  mind,  the  difference 
between  this  and  former  scenes  which  had  been  enacted  here.  A  Union  soldier  stood 
guard  over  the  former  Rebel  jailor.  Union  officers  and  soldiers  with  clanking  spurs 
and  sabres,  now  walked  in  freedom  where  a  few  weeks  since  hundreds  of  Union 
officers  mourned  in  spirit  for  the  freedom  which  it  seemed  to  them  would  never  come. 

Castle  Thunder  is  an  ordinary  building  and  was  used  for  a  prison.  The 
Capitol  is  not  a  grand  building,  but  it  is  full  of  historical  associations.  The 
equestrian  statue  of  Washington  in  the  Capitol  grounds,  is  a  noble  work  of  art. — A 
statue  of  Henry  Clay  is  also  a  fine  one. 

The  Spottswood  House  is  a  finer  building  perhaps  than  any  hotel  in  Detroit.  It 
was  filled  with  officers  of  both  the  Union  and  Confederate  armies,  for  you  must  know 
that  Richmond  is  filled  with  paroled  Rebel  officers  and  soldiers.  They  wear  their 
uniforms  and  strut  about  the  hotels  as  big  as  you  please.  You  find  them  in  the  warm 
afternoons,  sitting  under  the  trees  in  the  Capitol  grounds  and  drinking  their  juleps  at 
the  bars. 

The  6th  of  the  month  at  early  dawn,  the  bugles  sounded,  and  the  Old  Army  of 
the  Potomac  prepared  for  the  triumphant  march  through  the  Rebel  Capital.  Here 
and  there  and  everywhere  the  troops  were  marching  and  countermarching,  the  cavalry 
were  dashing  to  and  fro,  Aides  rode  furiously  between  the  different  Headquarters,  and 
everything  betokened  a  grand  gala  day  for  the  army.  The  sun  shone  splendidly.  It 
was  just  such  a  day  as  one  would  have  selected  had  he  been  given  a  choice.  At  9 
o'clock  the  march  was  to  begin  and  at  that  hour  the  tread  of  the  soldiers,  the  soft 
music  floating  through  the  puse  air,  the  gay  flags  waving  in  all  directions,  the  bright 
sunshine  flashing  on  the  guns  of  the  long  lines  of  infantry,  all  inspired  the  mind  with 
feelings  of  pride  and  satisfaction. 

The  Army  of  the  James  was  drawn  up  along  the  streets  through  which  we  were 
to  march  and  extended  not  less  than  three  miles.  And  now  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
enters  Richmond  and  every  man  treads  firmer  as  he  marches  through  the  streets 
along  which  thousands  of  Union  captives  were  marched  by  the  Rebels  after  Bull  Run 
and  other  disastrous  fields.  How  changed  !  Then  the  citizens  of  Richmond  came 
out  by  thousands  to  look  with  pride  and  triumph  upon  the  long  files  of  captives  sent 


THE   ARMIES   DISBANDED.  309 

by  the  Rebel  chiefs  to  amuse  their  countrymen.  Now  the  captives  are  the  conquerors, 
and  with  mailed  hands  and  helmeted  heads  and  the  tread  of  great  chiefs,  they  pass 
through  the  city,  and  the  great  Leader  of  the  Rebel  armies,  from  behind  a  latticed 
window,  views  the  endless  lines  of  the  Union  forces  !  Shout  after  shout  goes  up  from 
the  Brigades  of  the  Armies  of  the  James  as  the  war-worn  veterans  of  the  army  file  by 
them.  We  pass  by  all  the  noted  places  in  order  that  the  troops  may  see  them. 

Here  is  Libby.and  each  soldier  bites  his  lip  and  grinds  his  teeth  as  he  marches 
by  the  place  of  murders.  On  we  march,  and  now  we  are  in  front  of  the  Capitol,  and 
the  beautiful  Equestrian  Statue  of  the  Father  of  his  Country  stands  out  like  a  living 
reality  against  the  blue  sky,  the  bright  sunshine  playing  upon  horse  and  rider,  and 
seeming  to  give  life  to  both. 

There  is  the  Capitol  of  the  State  of  Virginia.  It  was  built  many,  many  years 
ago.  It  is  not  so  old  as  Westminister  Hall  or  St.  Paul,  or  the  Tower  of  London,  but 
from  its  rostrum  have  issued  forth  in  other  days,  an  eloquence  which  thrilled  a  nation 
of  freemen,  and  inspired  men  with  a  warmer  devotion  to  liberty.  It  has  a  history. 

Now  we  are  on  Franklin  street,  and  opposite  the  residence  of  General  Lee.  It  is 
a  plain  substantial  brick  dwelling.  We  are  conquerors,  but  we  are  not  barbarians. 
We  rejoice  in  victory,  but  we  do  not  insult  a  fallen  enemy.  We  pass  in  silence  so  far 
as  speech  is  concerned,  but  the  sound  of  martial  music  and  the  soft  notes  of  the  many 
bands  filled  the  street  with  patriotic  airs. 

We  leave  the  city,  and  are  on  the  way  to  Hanover  Court  House.  Every  foot  of 
the  ground  between  Richmond  and  Fredericksburg  is  full  of  historical  associations, 
remote  and  recent.  Here  is  Hanover  Court  House,  the  scene  of  several  severe  battles, 
and  more  noted  still  as  being  the  place  where  Patrick  Henry,  the  forest-born 
Demosthenes,  first  exhibited  those  wonderful  powers  of  eloquence  which  electrified 
the  continent  and  sounded  the  knell  of  English  rule  in  America.  Before  we  reach 
Hanover  Court  House,  we  bivouac  on  the  spot  where  General  Stuart  of  the  Rebel 
army,  received  his  death  wound.  On  all  sides  are  earthworks,  rifle  pits,  trenches,  etc. 

On  the  fourth  clay  after  leaving  Richmond,  we  approach  Fredericksburg,  and 
from  a  height  seven  miles  in  the  rear,  we  catch  the  first  sight  of  the  city.  First  a  spire 
meets  the  eye,  and  then  the  top  of  a  lofty  building,  and  finally  the  whole  city  is  in  full 
view.  All  are  anxious  to  pass  over  the  memorable  battle-field,  and  the  line  of  march 
is  up  the  Bowling  Green  Road.  There  on  the  hill  are  the  Rebel  batteries.  Did  I  say 
batteries?  There  are  the  embrasures,  but  the  Rebel  and  his  cannon  are  gone. 
Stillness  as  of  the  Sabbath  reigns  through  all  the  fields  and  over  all  the  heights. 

I  am  anxious  to  revisit  the  first  battle-field  of  the  "  Twenty-fourth,"  and  I  leave 
the  Brigade  and  cut  across  the  fields.  A  negro  is  ploughing  in  the  field  where  Hattie 
was  killed,  but  the  grave  of  our  first  offering  to  the  grim  God  of  War  is  untouched. 
Humbly,  reverently,  I  dismounted  and  kneeled  by  the  graves  of  Hattie  a'nd  Reed 
and  read  their  half 'effaced  names  from  the  mouldering  head-boards.  Captain  Whiting 
renews  the  names.  We  have  fought  the  good  fight.  We  have  won  the  victory.  We 
are  on  our  homeward  march.  These,  our  first  dead,  cannot  go  with  us.  They  sleep 
on  the  banks  of  the  Rappahannock  and  we  shall  see  them  no  more  till  the  Judgment 
Day. 

I  saw  also  the  graves  of  Sergeant  Brindle  and  Corporal  Tait  who  were  killed  on 
the  3Oth  day  of  April,  1863.  I  said  to  the  ploughman,  "My  good  man,  in  these 
graves  sleep  brave  soldiers  who  fought  for  the  best  and  holiest  of  causes,  and  gave  up 
their  lives  that  their  country  might  live.  Respect  their  graves  or  in  the  silent  watches 
of  the  night,  their  sheetless  corpses  shall  harrow  thy  soul  with  fear."  He  promised 


3IO  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

to  respect  them  and  we  bade  adieu  to  the  resting  places  of  the  first  martyrs  of  the 
"Twenty-fourth." 

"Their  bodies  are  dust,  their  good  swords  rust, 

And  their  souls  are  with  the  saints,  we  trust." 

That  night  our  bivouac  is  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Rappahannock  not  far  from 
where  we  encamped  after  we  recrossed  the  river  in  December,  1862.  We  crossed  the 
river  at  the  identical  place  where  we  crossed  it  on  the  morning  of  the  I2th  of 
December,  1862.  Then  we  were  going  out  to  fight  ;  now  we  have  fought  our  last 
fight  and  won  our  last  battle,  and  we  are  going  home  to  friends  and  dear  ones. 

It  seemed  to  me  as  if  from  this  plain,  there  must  stand  some  of  the  countless 
throng  that  crowded  it  on  that  memorable  I2th  day  of  December.  But  no,  not  one. 
Few  of  that  host  remain.  Some  sleep  a  mile  below,  some  afterwards  fell  at 
Chancellorsville,  some  at  Gettysburg,  some  at  Mine  Run,  some  in  the  Wilderness,  and 
on  every  battlefield  from  the  Rapidan  to  the  James,  and  from  the  James  to 
Appomattox  Court  House,  where  Lee  finally  succumbed,  some  of  those  brave  spirits 
find  resting  places.  They  will  come  together  no  more. 

As  I  sat  by  the  grave  of  Hattie,  I  tried  to  recall  the  past.  I  tried  to  recall  to 
mind  the  scenes  of  the  I3th  day  of  December,  1862.  On  this  identical  field,  stood 
Speed,  and  Hutton,  and  Grace,  and  Nail,  and  the  other  brave  officers  and  soldiers  who 
have  fallen  at  Gettysburg  and  elsewhere.  Nail  sleeps  in  New  Jersey.  Speed  rests 
near  Detroit.  Grace  lies  in  the  National  Cemetery  at  Gettysburg.  Hutton  is  in  the 
Wilderness  !  It  was  painful  to  dwell  on  the  theme.  Why  was  I  spared  ?  I  asked 
myself.  Here  I  was,  mounted  on  the  same  horse  which  I  rode  in  the  first  battle  of 
Fredericksburg  ! 

I  have  given  you,  in  a  conversational  way,  an  account  of  our  homeward  march. 
We  are  near  Arlington,  at  present,  but  I  think  we  shall  be  all  out  of  the  service  in  a 
few  days,  except  perhaps  a  few  of  the  Veteran  Regiments.  The  Grand  Review  comes 
off  next  week,  and  is  to  be  the  greatest  military  display  the  world  ever  saw.  We  are 
making  perparations  for  it.  1  hope  the  general  health  of  the  officers  and  men  is  good. 
No  doubt  you  are  all  looking  forward  to  a  speedy  return  to  your  homes.  Give  my 
regards  to  all. 

Ever  your  friend, 

HENRY  A.   MORROW. 
Adjutant  LEWIS  H.  CHAMHERLIN, 

Twenty-fourth  Michigan  Volunteers. 


GRAND    REVIEW  —  GRANTS   FAREWELL  —  CLOSING   WEEKS. 

During  the  week  following,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  the 
one  that  had  marched  with  Sherman  to  the  sea,  moved  in  grand 
review  through  Washington,  with  proud  and  streaming  battle-flags, 
before  the  President  and  chief  men  of  the  nation,  receiving  due 
homage  for  their  patriotic  services.  In  an  address  by  the  General- 
in-Chief  to  the  Union  soldiers  of  the  nation,  he  said  : 

By  your  patriotic  devotion  to  your  country  in  the  hour  of  danger  and  alarm, 
your  magnificent  fighting,  bravery  and  endurance,  you  have  maintained  the 
supremacy  of  the  Union  and  the  Constitution,  overthrown  all  armed  opposition  to  the 
enforcement  of  the  laws  and  of  the  proclamation  forever  abolishing  slavery — the  cause 


THE   ARMIES   DISBANDED.  31 1 

and  pretext  of  the  Rebellion — and  opened  the  way  to  the  rightful  authorities  to  restore 
order,  and  inaugurate  peace  on  a  permanent  and  enduring  basis  on  every  foot  of 
American  soil.  Your  marches,  sieges,  and  battles,  in  distance,  duration,  resolution, 
and  brilliancy  of  results,  dims  the  lustre  of  the  world's  past  military  achievements, 
and  will  be  the  patriot's  precedent  in  defense  of  liberty  and  right,  in  all  time  to  come. 
Victory  has  crowned  your  valor,  and  with  the  gratitude  of  your  countrymen  and  the 
highest  honors  a  great  and  free  nation  can  accord,  you  will  soon  return  to  your  homes 
and  families.  To  secure  these  glorious  triumphs,  tens  of  thousands  of  your  gallant 
comrades  have  fallen,  and  sealed  the  priceless  legacy  with  their  blood.  The  graves  of 
these,  a  grateful  nation  bedews  with  tears,  honors  their  memories,  and  will  ever 
cherish  and  support  their  stricken  families. 

The  weeks  following  the  Grand  Review  and  farewell  address  were 
devoted  to  mustering  out  the  soldiers  as  rapidly  as  possible.  With 
the  surrender  of  Lee  all  recruiting  offices  were  closed  and  no  more 
arrivals  came  to  Camp  Butler,  while  the  drafted  men  and  substitutes 
there  were  soon  sent  home,  which  lightened  the  duties  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan.  The  closing  weeks  of  the  Regiment's  tarry 
near  Springfield,  111.,  were  attended  with  none  of  the  excitement  of 
the  field.  However,  the  assassination  of  Lincoln  had  its  effect  upon 
the  men  —  that  of  profound  sorrow.  Many  of  the  soldiers  wept  as  at 
the  loss  of  a  father.-  On  the  occasion  of  the  President's  funeral,  the 
appearance  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  which  formed  the  principal 
escort  added  to  the  pageant  and  elicited  much  commendation  from 
military  men  and  citizens.  The  regiment  was  drilled  with  especial 
care  for  the  honorable  duty,  by  Major  Hutchinson  and  the  company 
officers,  and  its  appearance  was  at  its  best,  being  thoroughly  furnished 
with  new  Iron  Brigade  black  hats,  feathers,  brasses  and  white  gloves. 
They  were  soon  recognized  by  Major-General  Joseph  Hooker,  who 
was  in  attendance  and  who  seemed  pleased  again  to  meet  the 
Regiment  whose  acquaintance  he  had  made  in  the  early  stages  of  the 
war.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Edwards  commanded  the  Regiment  on  the 
occasion. 

The  days  passed  slowly  by  as  the  men  could  count  on  their 
fingers  the  weeks  they  had  to  serve.  Occasionally  some  long  absent 
member  would  return  from  Confederate  prison  or  general  hospital. 
On  the  4th  of  June  two  of  the  new  recruits  were  drowned  while 
bathing  in  the  Sangamon  River  —  Thomas  Checken  and  Thomas 
Shanahan.  One  was  drowning  and  his  comrade  swam  out  to  his 
assistance  and  both  went  down  in  each  other's  arms.  The  old  story 
that  wherever  camps  are  pitched  graves  are  left,  proved  very  true  at 
Camp  Butler,  for  twelve  of  the  veterans  of  the  Regiment  and 
twenty-five  of  the  new  recruits  were  there  mustered  out  forever  and 
found  final  resting  places  near  this  prairie  camp. 


312  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

June  i6th  brought  orders  for  the  Regiment  to  proceed  to  Detroit 
for  muster-out.  On  June  19,  at  10:30  A.  M.,  it  bade  a  glad  farewell  to 
Camp  Butler  for  its  last  tenting  ground,  near  the  banks  of  the  Detroit. 
It  reached  Fort  Wayne  soon  after  daylight  of  Tuesday,  June  20,  and 
at  5  o'clock  P.  M.  was  welcomed  home  in  the  city  whence  it  took  its 
departure  nearly  three  years  before.— Then,  1,026  men  upon  its  rolls, 
now,  less  than  200  of  those  original  men.  The  Free  Press  thus 
described  its  arrival : 

Our  citizens  felt  a  peculiar  gratification,  yesterday  afternoon,  in  welcoming  to 
their  homes  the  gallant  Twenty-fourth  Michigan.  It  is  the  especial  pride  of  our  city 
and  county.  Of  all  the  .brave  troops  who  have  gone  from  our  State,  few,  if  any, 
regiments  can  point  to  a  more  brilliant  record,  to  more  heroic  endurance,  to  greater 
sacrifices  for  the  perpetuation  of  the  priceless  legacy  of  civil  liberty  and  a  wise  and 
good  government.  Few  regiments  in  the  service  have  been  through  more  perilous 
marches  and  seen  more  hard  fighting.  Its  losses  have  been  extremely  heavy. 
Yesterday  an  expectant  crowd  thronged  the  depot  from  10  A.  M.  until  the  Regiment 
arrived,  and  the  thoroughfares  leading  to  the  depot  were  thronged.  By  5  o'clock  the 
depot  was  crammed  to  excess,  and  Brush  and  Atwater  streets  in  the  neighborhood 
were  a  dense  mass  of  human  beings  As  the  train  rolled  into  the  depot,  cheer  on 
cheer  made  the  echoes  ring  again.  The  Regiment  formed  in  line  and  proceeded  up 
Brush  street,  escorted  by  the  city  band,  thence  down  Jefferson.  Here  the  scene  was 
an  imposing  one.  Flags  were  displayed  and  many  buildings  were  gaily  decorated 
with  flags,  evergreens  and  mottoes.  Over  the  entrance  to  Young  Men's  Hall  were 
the  words  "  Welcome  Home."  The  building  of  F.  Buhl  was  beautifully  decorated 
with  flags.  The  side  walks,  roofs  of  buildings  and  every  available  place  for  seeing 
was  densely  packed  with  spectators  and  cheer  on  cheer  went  up  as  the  Regiment 
passed  along.  A  conspicuous  object  in  the  line  was  the  beautiful  flag  presented  by 
the  citizens  of  Detroit. 

Though  the  ranks  were  full,  only  about  two  hundred  were  of  the 
original  men,  distinguished  by  a  red  circular  patch  on  the  hat,  which 
was  the  badge  of  the  old  First  Army  Corps,  to  which  they  formerly 
belonged.  Lieutenant-Colonel  A.  M.  Edwards  was  in  command  of 
the  Regiment  which  was  marched  to  the  freight  dock  of  the  Michigan 
Central  Depot  whence  it  left  for  the  front  just  two  years,  nine 
months  and  twenty-two  days  previously  from  that  hour.  It  was  from 
this  dock  that  the  immense  throng  of  friends  on  that  sad  evening, 
August  29,  1862,  watched  the  steamers  that  bore  them  away  till  they 
were  lost  to  view.  Alas,  three  hundred  of  those  departing  friends 
were  gone  forever,  never  more  to  be  welcomed  home.  On  this 
memorable  spot  in  our  regimental  history,  tables  were  spread  for 
supper  and  the  returning  soldiers  were  welcomed  back  by  Rev. 
George  Taylor  and  Hon.  Theodore  Romeyn.  Lines  were  again 
formed  and  the  Regiment  proceeded  up  Jefferson  avenue  to  Detroit 
Barracks.  This  was  its  last  camping  ground  and  named  "Camp 


THE   ARMIES   DISBANDED.  313 

Crapo  "  after  the  Governor  of  Michigan.  Here  it  awaited  its  final 
dissolution  a  few  days  later.  It  was  met  upon  its  return  to  Detroit  by 
some  who  had  been  tarrying  in  hospitals,  prisons  and  detached 
service,  so  that,  altogether,  about  two  hundred  and  forty-six  original 
members  were  mustered  out  with  the  Regiment.  Below  we  quote 
portions  of  the  closing  letter  of  Sergeant  S.  D.  Green  to  the  Free 
Press,  from  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  whose  correspondent  %he  had 
been  from  the  Regiment  while  out  from  home. 

FAREWELL   LETTER    OF   SERGEANT   GREEN. 

CAMP  CRAPO,  DETROIT  BARRACKS,  June  29,  1865. 

The  Twenty-fourth  remembers  with  gratitude  and  thanks  that  through  these 
columns  during  their  three  years'  absence  and  hard  service,  their  friends  at  home 
were  occasionally  informed  of  their  toils  and  hardships,  their  marches  and  campaigns. 
We  have  heard  from  lips  that  love  us,  during  the  few  happy  days  that  have  sped  on 
golden  wings  since  Detroit  gave  us  such  a  glad  and  cordial  welcome  eight  days  ago, 
that  hearts  were  rejoiced  at  good  news  in  the  paper  from  time  to  time.  That  our 
friends  may  hear  once  more  through  this  means,  we  send  them  words  of  cheer  and 
greeting  from  this,  our  last  tented  camp  and  field. 

The  slow  process  of  the  mustering  office  is  approaching  the  final  termination  of 
its  labors  as  regards  the  Twenty-fourth.  One  company — the  unassigned  recruits — 
mustered  out  three  days  ago,  has  this  afternoon  been  paid  and  its  members  are  on 
their  way  home.  Company  F  was  mustered  out  at  noon  to-day.  It  waits  only  the 
striking  of  balances  by  the  Paymaster's  clerk,  and  the  last  roll-call  will  be  to  walk  up 
to  the  table  and  receive  their  pay.  Yet  a  very  few  days,  and  the  organization  of  our 
regiment  will  be  no  more.  Still,  there  is  no  regret.  As  soldiers,  we  are  no  longer 
needed  ;  as  citizens,  we  return — we  who  remain — to  the  quiet  avocations  of  civil  life 
and  home. 

We  hope  to  return  to  our  places  upon  the  stage  of  life,  some  to  take  high  and 
honorable  positions  among  our  fellows,  others  as  honorable  though  more  humble 
stations.  Already  some  of  our  number  who,  by  the  casualties  of  war,  were  disabled 
and  left  us  early  in  our  term  of  service,  have  reached  a  high  and  advantageous  stand 
from  which  to  start  in  the  battle  of  busy  life.  We  saw  one  who  graduated  with  high 
honors  yesterday  at  the  University  of  Michigan  in  the  neighboring  and  pleasant  city 
of  Ann  Arbor,  and  when  eyes  rested  upon  the  empty  sleeve  that  hung  by  his  side,  we 
remembered  how  he  won  it.  Sick  and  left  behind  in  hospital  at  Brooke's  Station, 
when  the  regiment  moved  forward  to  Fredericksburg,  he  pressed  onward  next  day, 
but  failing  to  find  the  Twenty-fourth,  he  went  in  with  the  Seventh,  charged  through 
"that  smoking  town,"  and  came  out  maimed  for  life.  And  he  is  but  one.  You  shall 
see  them  on  every  hand,  yet  they  do  not  complain.  They  have  their  reward,  and  some 
there  are  who,  having  gone  through  ten  times  more  and  greater  dangers,  unharmed, 
would  fain  give  something  to  have  been  touched  that  they,  too,  might  bear  honorable 
scars. 

Yesterday  the  regiment  had  its  last  dress  parade.  To-day  the  arms  and 
ordnance  stores  have  been  turned  over  to  the  proper  government  officers,  and  all  the 
stately  pride  of  arms  is  gone  from  our  camp.  We  still  live  in  tents,  such  as  have  been 
our  habitation  summer  and  winter  for  three  years.  With  this,  too,  this  special 
correspondence  "  from  the  Twenty-fourth,"  must  have  an  end.  Your  correspondent 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

has  held  pleasant  communion  with  the  friends  of  the  regiment  through  these  columns. 
And  yet  it  could  not  be  for  any  intrinsic  merit  of  those  sketches  which  were  sometimes 
gathered  from  the  smoke  of  battle  and  from  out  the  dust  of  hard  campaigns,  but  it 
must  be  due  to  the  fact  that  they  concerned  that  regiment  upon  whose  members  were 
centered  the  fondest  hopes,  and  for  whose  welfare  and  safety  the  most  fervent  prayers 
were  offered  by  friends  at  home. 

And  now  to  those  friends  and  to  the  Twenty-fourth  we  say  good  bye,  but  the 
memories  that  are  pleasant  shall  remain  always  with 

Their  friend  and  yours,  S.  D.  G. 

FAREWELL   ORDER. 

At  5  o'clock  P.  M.  on  Wednesday,  June  28,  occurred  the  last  dress 
parade  of  the  regiment,  when  the  following  farewell  order  was  read  : 

HEADQUARTERS  TWENTY-FOURTH  MICHIGAN  VOLUNTEERS,  ) 

DETROIT,  June  28,  1865.      f 

GENERAL  ORDERS   NO.    46. 

Officers  and  Soldiers  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  Volunteers  : 

You  are  soon  to  return  to  civil  life  and  assume  the  duties  and  obligations  of 
citizens. 

In  taking  leave  of  you  and  sundering  the  ties  which  three  years  of  toil  and 
danger  have  strengthened,  I  wish  to  express  my  warm  regard  for  you  personally  and 
my  high  admiration  for  the  noble  qualities  you  have  displayed  in  your  career  as 
soldiers. 

Your  patience,  promptness,  courage  and  fidelity,  have  won  for  you  the  praise  of 
all  your  commanders.  The  story  of  your  exploits  will  be  told  in  history.  In  your 
first  battle,  at  Fredericksburg,  when  only  newly  enlisted,  you  established  a  reputation 
for  coolness  and  gallantry  which  entitled  you  to  be  classed  with  veterans.  In  your 
subsequent  engagements  at  Port  Royal  and  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  at  Chancellorsville, 
and  on  the  Westmoreland  raid,  at  Gettysburg,  Mine  Run  and  the  Wilderness,  at 
Spottsylvania,  North  Anna  and  Bethesda  Church,  on  the  Tolopotomoy,  at  Petersburg, 
on  the  Weldon  Railroad  and  on  the  Weldon  raid,  at  Hatcher's  Run,  and  at  Dabney's 
Mills,  you  maintained  the  high  character  you  had  gained,  and  added  fresh  laurels  to 
your  already  brilliant  fame. 

You  left  Detroit  nearly  three  years  ago  with  a  thousand  men  and  thirty-seven 
officers.  You  return  now  with  less  than  two  hundred  of  those  men  and  only  six  of  the 
original  officers.  Every  battle-field  on  which  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  has  fought, 
from  the  first  Fredericksburg,  to  Hatcher's  Run,  has  been  moistened  with  your  blood. 
You  have  never  lost  a  color,  but  have  captured  two  from  the  enemy. 

You  will  soon  return  to  your  homes  and  families,  and  engage  in  civil  pursuits. 
You  can  carry  with  you  the  sweet  reflection  that  you  have  done  your  duty,  and  a 
restored  and  happy  country  will  applaud  the  heroic  sacrifices  you  have  made  in  its 
defense.  Let  no  act  of  your  future  life  sully  the  fair  name  you  have  won  in  the  field. 
Return  to  your  homes,  good  and  quiet  citizens,  and  follow  the  arts  of  peace  with  the 
same  zeal  and  fidelity  you  have  shown  in  the  field  of  honor,  and  happiness  and 
prosperity  will  crown  your  labors. 

By  order  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 

ALBERT  M.  EDWARDS. 
L.  H.  CHAMBERLIN,  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant. 


COMMANDERS   OF    TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN    DURING   ABSENCE   OF 

COLONEL   MORROW. 


LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  MARK  FLANIGAN. 

(Brevet  Brigadier-General.) 


LIEUTENANT-COLONEL   WILLIAM   W.  WIGHT. 


LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  ALBERT  M.  EDWARDS. 

(Brevet  Colonel.) 


MAJOK    WILLIAM   HUTCHINSON. 

(Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel.) 


THE   ARMIES   DISBANDED.  317 

Friday,  June  30,  1865,  dates  the  final  discharge  of  the  Regiment, 
it  having  been  just  two  years,  ten  months  and  fifteen  days  from  its 
muster-in  to  its  muster-out. 

COMMANDERS  OF   THE    REGIMENT. 

Although  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  never  had  but  one  full 
Colonel,  the  Regiment  was  from  time  to  time  under  the  command  of 
four  other  of  its  officers,  while  its  Colonel  was  absent  on  sick  leave, 
wounded  or  in  command  of  the  Brigade.  These  officers  were  Mark 
Flanigan,  W.  W.  Wight,  Albert  M.  Edwards  and  William  Hutchinson, 
who  commanded  the  Regiment  at  different  times  as  follows,  Captain 
Gordon  commanding  one  day: 

1862.  Feb.  i  to  Feb    28,  Lt.-Col.  Wight. 

July  26  to  Nov.  4,  Colonel  Morrow.  Feb.  28  to  Mar.  8,  Colonel  Morrow. 

Nov.  4  to  Nov.  6,  Lt.-Col.  Flanigan.  Mar.  8  to  Mar.  n,  Lt.-Col.  Wight. 

Nov.  7  to  Feb.  9,  '63,  Colonel  Morrow.  Mar.  n  to  Mar.  21,  Colonel   Morrow. 

1863.  Mar.  21  to  May  i,  Lt.-Col.   Wight.      » 
Feb.  9  to  Feb.  16,  Lt.-Col.  Flanigan.  Ma>'  *  to  May  5.  Colonel  Morrow. 
Feb.  16  to  Mar.  24,  Colonel  Morrow.  MaX  5  to  May  9,  Lt.-Col.  Wight. 
Mar.  24  to  April  2,   Lt.-Col.  Flanigan.  MaY  9  to  MaY  22>  Major  Edwards. 
April  2  to  June  i,  Colonel  Morrow.  MaY  23  to  June  9,  Lt.-Col.  Wight. 
June  i  to  June  5,  Lt.-Col.  Flanigan.  June  9  to  Nov.  13,   Lt.-Col.   Edwards. 
June  b  to  June  7,  Colonel  Morrow,  Nov-  U  to  Dec.  22,  Colonel  Morrow. 
June  7  to  June  13,  Lt.-Col.  Flanigan.  Dec.  22  to  Jan.  17/65,  Maj.  Hutchinson. 
June  13  to  July  I,  Colonel  Morrow.  1865. 

July  i  to  July  4,  Captain  Edwards.  Jan.  17  to  Jan.  20,   Lt.-Col.  Edwards. 

July  4  to  July  14,  Colonel  Morrow.  Jan.  20  to  Jan.  24,  Colonel  Morrow. 

July  14  to  Aug.  7,  Captain  Edwards.  Jan  24  to  Mar.  31,  Lt.-Col.  Edwards. 

Aug.  7  to  Aug.  21,  Colonel  Morrow.  Mar.  31  to  April  14    Colonel  Morrow. 

Aug.  21  to  Aug.  23,  Captain  Edwards.  April  14  to  Apr.  25,  Lt.-Col.  Edwards. 

Aug.  23  to  Oct.  10,  Colonel  Morrow.  April  25  tojune  15,  Maj.  Hutchinson. 

Oct.  10  to  Dec.  6,  Captain  Edwards.  June  16,  Captain  George  C.  Gordon. 

Dec.  6  to  Jan.  3,  '64,  Colonel  Morrow.  June  17  to  June  30,  Lt.-Col.  Edwards. 

1864. 
Jan.  3  to  Feb.  i,  Captain  Edwards. 

Thus  altogether,  Colonel  Morrow  had  command  one  year  four 
months;  Lieutenant-Colonel  Edwards,  one  year  one  month; 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Wight,  three  months;  Major  Hutchinson,  two 
and  a  half  months;  Lieutenant-Colonel  Flanigan,  one  month,  and 
Captain  Gordon  (nominally)  one  day. 

THE   DRUM    STICKS   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH. 

The  drum  sticks  used  in  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  have  a 
history  reaching  far  back  into  days  of  the  Revolution  and  probably 
much  farther  could  the  facts  be  known.  They  were  found  on  the 


318  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

battle-field  of  Saratoga,  or  Bemis  Heights,  October  7,  1777,  by  the  side 
of  a  dead  British  Drummer.  They  were  picked  up  by  Lieutenant 
Chase  of  Morgan's  famous  South  Carolina  Rifles,  and  were  presented 
by  him  to  James  Parker,  a  drummer  in  Chase's  Company,  by  whom 
they  were  used  until  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  then 
presented  them  to  James  Culver,  from  whom  they  passed  to  his  son 
David  Culver,  a  drummer  in  the  war  of  1812.  Culver  used  them  at 
Niagara,  Lundy's  Lane,  and  elsewhere  in  the  campaigns  of  the 
"Second  War  for  Independence,"  and  transferred  them  to  his  son 
James  who  was  a  drummer  in  the  American  Army  in  the  Mexican 
War,  1846  to  1848,  and  by  him  they  were  used  in  the  campaign  from 
Vera  Cruz  to  the  City  of  Mexico. 

In  August  1862,  James  presented  them  to  his  cousin,  Anson  B. 
Culver  who  was  a  drummer  in  the  band  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
Michigan  Infantry.  He  used  them  from  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg, 
December  13,  1862,  to  the  close  of  the  campaign  which  terminated  in 
the  terrible  conflict  at  Gettysburg.  In  the  fall  of  1863,  Culver 
presented  these  precious  relics  to  Colonel  Morrow,  who  owned  them 
till  his  death  in  1891.  Their  last  war  service  was  in  the  Grand  Review 
of  the  Union  Armies  at  Washington  in  1865,  at  the  close  of  the 
Rebellion,  when  they  were  used  in  the  Band  of  the  Iron  Brigade  of 
which  General  Morrow  was  then  commander.  They  .  have  been 
witnesses  of  many  stirring  incidents  in  our  national  history,  but  never, 
in  their  long  career,  did  they  witness  grander  deeds  than  when  at 
Gettysburg  they  sounded  the  advance  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan 
boys  to  their  immortal  work,  whose  conduct  in  that  battle  is  a  part  of 
the  brightest  chapter  in  the  military  annals  of  the  Republic. 

HOSPITAL   EXPERIENCE. 

Hospital  experience  formed  a  peculiar  part  of  soldier  life,  known 
only  to  such  as  the  chances  of  battle  or  disease  contracted  in  the  field 
compelled  to  endure.  As  soon  as  possible  after  or  during  a  fight, 
the  surgeons  began  their  work.  A  place  was  selected  near  the  field  to 
which  the  wounded  were  brought  on  stretchers  if  unable  to  walk. 
The  amputating  table  was  put  to  use  and  soon  a  pile  of  hands,  feet, 
arms  and  legs  accumulated.  A  row  of  dead  forms  might  be  seen  near 
by,  of  such  as  had  died  during  the  operation.  Chloroform,  the 
greatest  physical  blessing  to  mankind,  was  used,  and  limbs  were 
severed  without  the  knowledge  of  the  patient,  often  needlessly,  no 
doubt. 


THE   ARMIES   DISBANDED. 


319 


If  possible,  the  wounded  were  taken  by  ambulance,  railroad  or 
boat  to  some  town  or  city  when  the  real  hospital  life  began.  Churches, 
schoolhouses,  colleges  and  public  halls  were  occupied  with  the 
wounded,  if  within  a  few  miles  even  of  a  battlefield.  Each  soldier 
was  placed  upon  a  cot  and  for  the  first  time  for  months  had  an  easy 


AMPUTATINU   TABLE. 


bed.  He  was  among  strangers  whom  he  had  never  seen  before  and  a 
myriad  of  wounded,  numbers  of  whom  were  dying,  for  though 
removed  from  the  front,  death  was  still  around.  He  must  keep  up 
his  spirits  or  homesickness  and  depression  would  send  him  to  the  grave 
more  surely  than  his  wound. 

A  more  cheerful  lot  of  men  were  never  seen  than  wounded 
soldiers  after  a  battle,  excepting  only  those  who  knew  their  wounds 
were  fatal.  They  were  silent.  The  others  were  jovial — telling  stories 
of  the  fight  and  appearing  cheerful  and  happy.  This  may  seem 
strange,  but  each  one  was  thankful  that  his  head  was  not  blown  off 
instead  of  a  finger,  foot  or  arm.  Calcuations  were  made  how  long  ere 
they  could  go  home  to  remain  or  on  furlough,  and  future  plans  of  life 


32O  HISTORY  OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

were  discussed.  With  many,  their  wounds  disqualified  them  from 
their  former  occupation,  and  new  pursuits  must  be  planned.  There 
was  no  weeping  among  the  mortally  wounded.  The  dying  do  not 
weep.  Those  destined  to  recover  were  too  happy  to  indulge  in  tears. 

As  the  days  and  nights  rolled  by,  stretchers  frequently  bore  away 
forms  whose  spirits  had  flown  to  another  world.  Others  were  carried 
out  to  undergo  a  second  operation  —  some  never  to  return  alive  —  died 
on  the  operating  table.  Sad  scenes  were  often  witnessed.  Relatives 
would  sometimes  arrive  in  time  to  see  their  friends  die,  and  often  too 
late.  Some  craved  to  be  taken  home  to  die,  but  being  told  they  could 
not  go,  became  resigned  to  fate.  Their  lives  sped  away  among 
strangers,  perhaps  from  the  breaking  open  of  an  artery  while  asleep  or 
even  in  the  midst  of  a  story  or  meal. 

All  dispositions,  beliefs,  professions,  occupations,  the  learned  and 
the  unlearned,  the  vulgar  and  the  well-bred,  were  here  represented. 
Discussions  arose  on  every  subject — ethics,  religion,  politics  and  every 
polemic  topic,  which  often  aroused  the  combative  feelings  of  the 
patients.  Frequently  the  cripples  might  be  seen  raising  their  crutches 
to  strike  each  other  in  the  heat  of  debate,  when  some  peacemaker 
would  calm  the  disputants,  and  all  regretted  their  display  of  passion 
which  chiefly  resulted  from  irritability  caused  by  wounds.  Checkers 
and  other  games  were  played  to  while  away  the  time  and  occupy  the 
minds  of  the  wounded,  for  while  their  attention  was  thus  engaged, 
their  pain  ceased  to  annoy  them.  Happy  were  they  who  should 
survive  the  long  and  sleepless  nights,  the  occasions  of  sadness  and 
death  amid  hospital  life,  and  recover  to  return  to  duty  in  the  field  or 
to  friends  at  home. 

The  efforts  of  the  Sanitary  and  Christian  Commissions,  Sisters  of 
Charity  and  Women's  Aid  Societies,  to  alleviate  the  wants  and 
sufferings  of  the  sick  and  wounded,  in  hospital  and  field,  deserve  a 
remembrance  far  beyond  the  dying  embers  of  the  last  veteran  camp 
fire.  The  acclaim  of  thousands  of  sick  and  wounded  will  ever  praise 
the  self-denying  services  to  humanity  of  those  good  people  whom  the 
good  angels  only  can  sufficiently  reward. 


CHAPTER   XVI. 


ORIGINAL  MEMBERS  OF  THE 
TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN    INFANTRY. 


/VVA/  ««</  Staff:  1862. 

Col.  HENRY  A.    MORROW.    ..  .Virginia,  33 Lawyer,   Detroit Aug.    15. 

Lt.-Col.  MARK  FLANIGAN Ireland,  37 Butcher,   Detroit 15. 

Major  HENRY  W.  NALL England,  31 Clerk,  Detroit Sept.     4. 

Adjt.  JAMES  J.   BARNS New  York,  30 Journalist,  Detroit Aug.   15. 

Quarter  Master — 

DIGBY  V.  BELL,  JR Pennsylvania,  32.  .U.S.  Cust'm, Detroit  ....  July  26. 

Surgeon — 

DR.  JOHN  H.   BEECH New  York,  35 Physician,  Coldwater Aug  24. 

Assistant  Surgeon — 

DR.  CHARLES  C.  SMITH N.  Hampshire,  34.  .Physician,  Redford 15. 

Second  Assistant  Surgeon — 

DR.  ALEXANDER  COLLAR New  York,  40 Physician,  Wayne 18. 

Chaplain — 

REV.  WILLIAM  C.  WAY New  York,  38 Minister,  Plymouth 19. 

Non-Commissioned  Staff. 
Sergeant  Major — 

Edwin  E.  Norton Michigan,  25 Clerk,  Detroit Aug.  16. 

Quartermaster  Sergeant — 

Alonzo  Eaton New   York,  26 Clerk,  Detroit 17. 

Commissary  Sergeant — 

Gilbert  A.  Dickey Michigan,  19 Farmer,  Marshall 17. 

Hospital  Steward — 

Elmer  D.  Wallace England,  18 Clerk,   Detroit July    25. 

Chief  Musician — 

James  F.  Raymond New   York,  36 Artist,  Detroit Aug.   13. 

Drum  Major — 

Daniel  B.  Nichols Unknown,  49 Unknown,   Detroit 17. 

Fife  Major — 

Charles  Phillips Unknown,  50 Unknown,   Detroit 26. 

(21) 

(321) 


322  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN 

COMPANY   A. 


Officers:  1862. 

Capt.  EDWIN  B.  WIGHT  ........  Detroit,  24  ........  Lumberman,  Detroit  .......  July  26 

ist  Lt.  RICHARD  S.  DILLON  .....  New  York,  32  .....  Holder,  Detroit  ............  26 

2d  Lt.  H.  REES  WHITING  .......  Detroit,  25  ........  Journalist,  Detroit  .........  26 

Sergeants  : 

1.  Barrett  B.  Holstead  .........  New  Jersey,  28  ...  .Printer,  Detroit  ...........  28 

2.  William  J.  Nagle  ............  Detroit,   23  ........  Machinist,  Detroit  .........  29 

3.  Wendell  Benster  ............  New  York,  50  ......  Wheelwright,  Ash  .........  26 

4.  Gilman  Gilson  ..............  Maine,  37  ........  Ship  Carp'r,   Detroit  .......  Aug.    5 

5.  Edward  B.  Wilkie  ..........  Detroit,   20  ........  Machinist,  Detroit  .........  12 

Corporals  : 

1.  Hyacinth  Clarke  ............  Ireland,  25  ........  Laborer,  Detroit.  .  .    .......  July  30 

2.  Augustus  F.  Ziegler  .........  Detroit,    18  ........  Clerk,  Detroit  .............  Aug.    4 

3.  Menzo  M.  Benster  ..........  Michigan,  22  ......  Miller,  Ash  ................  9 

4.  William  C.  Bates  ............  Detroit,  18  .........  Clerk,  Detroit  .............  12 

5.  George  A.  McDonald  ........  Walpole  I'd,  20.  ..  .Sailor,  Detroit  ............  July  28 

6.  Mark  T.  Chase  ............  Canada,  26  ........  Farmer,  Brownstown  ......  Aug.    4 

7.  Fred'k  A.  Hanstien  .........  Detroit,  18  ........  Shoemaker,  Grosse   Pte.  .  .  .July  26 

8.  Alfred  Rentz  ...............  Switzerland,  22.  ..  .Tinsmith,  Detroit  ..........  Aug.    8 

Bugler  — 

George  M.   Kemp  ..............  Monroe  Co.,  20.  .  .  .Farmer,  Exeter  ............  8 

Drummer  — 
George  F.  Hamilton  ...........  New  York,  18  .....  .Sailor,  Detroit  .............  July  26 

Wagoner  — 
Nelson  Oakland  ...............  Canada,  37  ........  Calker,  Detroit  ............  Aug.    7 

Privates  : 
Harrison    Baker  ..............  New  York,  30  ......  Carpenter,  Flat  Rock  ......  9 

Solomon  S.  Benster  ............  Michigan,  18  ......  Machinist,  Ash  ............  2 

Christopher  Beahm  ...........  Germany,  18  ......  Farmer,   Springwells  .......  July  24 

Wm.  H.  Blanchard  .....  .......  New  York,  20  ......  Farmer,  Flat  Rock  .........  Aug.    6 

Herman  Blankertz  .............  Germany,  18  ......  Clerk,  Detroit  ............  July  25 

Philip  Blissing  ................  New  York,  36  ......  Farmer,  Ash  ..............  Aug.  12 

Frank  Brennon  ................          "  22  ......  Hatter,  Detroit  ............  July  31 

Francis  Brobacker  .............  France,  45  ........  Laborer,  Detroit  ...........  Aug.    i 

Roderick  Broughton  ...........  Ohio,  26  ........    Farmer,  Flat  Rock  .........  4 

Harvey  J.  Brown  ..............  New  York,  28  .....  Painter,  Holly  ............  12 

Dennis  Carroll  ...............    Ireland,  23  .......  Farmer,  Wayne  Co  ........  12 

Joseph  Carroll  .............   Chicago,  21  .......  Sailmaker,  Detroit  .........  n 

Oscar  N.  Castle  ..............  Oakland,  27  .......  Farmer,  Wayne  Co  ........  12 

John  Chandler  ...............  Tennessee,  18  .....  Gilder,  Detroit  ............  12 

Garrett  Chase  .................  Brownstown,  27.  .  .Farmer,  Brownstown  .....  7 

Jonathan  D.  Chase  ............  20.  .  .Farmer,  Brownstown  ......  4 

Charles   Conlisk  ...............  Monroe  Co.  ,  23  ____  Farmer,  Ash  ..............  6 

Max  Couture  ..................  Detroit,  21  ........  Mason,   Detroit  ............  7 

John  S.  Coy,  Jr  ................  Ohio,  20  ..........  Mason,  Lexington  .........  4 

Dexter  B.  Crosby  ..............  Livonia,  25  ........  Farmer,  Groveland  ........  12 

Lewis  Cummons  ...............  New  York,  18  .....  Farmer,  Wayne  Co  ........  July  28 


ORIGINAL   MEMBERS.  323 


RANK   AND    KAME. 

Christopher  Daniels  ...........  Ireland,  24  ........  Laborer,  Detroit  ...........  Aug.  12 

Alexis  DeClaire  ................  Belgium,   19  .......  Tailor,  Detroit  ............  7 

George  Dingwall  ..............  New  York,  18  .....  Farmer,  Wayne  Co  ........  n 

John  Dingwall  ................  20  .....  Farmer,  Wayne  Co  .......  n 

Charles  Dubois  ................  Detroit,  23  ........  Mason,  Detroit  ............  8 

William  Dusick  ................  Bohemia,    20  ......  Cabinetmaker,  Detroit  .....  July  29 

George  Eldridge  ...............  New  York,  18  .....  Farmer,   Redford  ..........  29 

Daniel  F.  Ellsworth  ...........  Lenawee  Co.,  18.  .  .Farmer,  Cambridge  ........  Aug.    5 

Charles  Fellratt  ...............  Wayne  Co.,  18  .  .  .  .Tinsmith,  Detroit  ..........  9 

Jacob  Fischer  .................  Germany,  44  ......  Saddler,   Detroit  ........... 

Charles  W.  Fuller  ............  New  York,  25.  ...   Clerk,   Detroit  ............ 

Peter  N.  Girardin  ..............  Detroit,  19  ........  Ship  carp'r,  Detroit  ........  July  24 

Patrick  Gorman  ...............  Ireland,  18  ........  Farmer,   Ash  ..............  Aug.  12 

Ignace  Haltar  .........    .......  Wurtemburg,  21.  .  .Tinsmith,  Detroit     ......  .July  26 

Henry  Hanstien  ...............  Wisconsin,  20  .....  Blacksmith,   Grosse  Pte.  .  .  .Aug.    8 

John  Happe  ..................  Prussia,  29  ........  Laborer,   Detroit  ...........  4 

James  P.  Horen  ...............  Monroe  Co.,  23.  ..  .Farmer,  Exeter  ............  12 

Lewis  E.  Johnson  ..............  Canada,  18  ........  Laborer,  Detroit  ...........  July  3° 

Augustus  Jenks  ...............  New  York,  40  .....  Farmer,  Ash  ..............  Aug.  12 

Stephen   Kavanaugh  ...........  Grosse  Isle,  22.  ..  .Farmer,  Exeter  ............  12 

William  Kendall  ...............  Detroit,  18  ........  Molder,  Detroit  ............  12 

Charles  Lature  ................        "         18  ........  Woodturner,  Detroit  .......  7 

Anthony  Long  ................  Prussia   23  ........  Farmer,  Wayne  Co  ........  12 

Thomas  Mercer  ...............  New  York,   19  .....  Steward,  Detroit..  .........  9 

George  A.  M  cores  ............  Monroe  Co.,  22.  ..  .Staveworker,  Ash  ........  9 

Michael  Moren  ................  Germany,  34  ......  Laborer,  Detroit  ...........  6 

James  Murphy  ................  Monroe  Co.,  20.  .  .  .Farmer,  Exeter  ............  6 

Walter  S.  Niles  ...............  New  York,  20  .....  Laborer,  Lexington  ........  4 

Barnard  Parish  ................  Monroe  Co.  ,  24.  ..    Farmer,  Ash  .............  6 

Albert  Peyscha  ...............  Bohemia,   20  ......  Locksmith,  Detroit  ........  JubT  29 

Robert  Phillips  ................  Michigan,  21  ......  Farmer,  Tuscola  ...........  Aug.    7 

Alexander  G.  Picard  ...........  Detroit,  23  .......    Painter,    Detroit  ...........  n 

Frank  Picard  ..................  Canada,  24  ........  Carpenter,   Detroit  .........  6 

Stephen  Prairie  ................  Monroe  Co.,  22.  ..  .Farmer,  Ash  ..............  6 

Charles  Quandt  ...............  Germany,  28  ......  Farmer,  Hamtramck  .......  6 

William  Rouseau  .............  New  York,  21  ......  Sailor,  Detroit  .............  July  31 

Jacob  Schlag  ........    .........  Germany,  38  ......  Wagonmaker,  Detroit  ......  Aug.  12 

Abraham  Schneiter  ............          "  18  ......  Butcher,  Detroit  ..........  i 

John  Schubert  .......  ..........  Saxony,  39  ........  Blacksmith,  Detroit  .......  5 

John  Schlittler  ...............  Switzerland,  30.  ..  .Shoemaker,  Detroit  ........  5 

Anthony  Silva  .................  Put-in-Bay,   34.  .  .  .Sailor,  Detroit  ............  July  26 

Augustus  R.  Sink  ............   Germany,   19  ......  Laborer,  Detroit  ...........  Aug.  II 

William  W.  Smith  .............  Xew  York,  28  .....  Carpenter,  Ash  ............  6 

James  K.  Soults  ..............    Ireland,  39  ........  Merchant,    Detroit  .........  July  30 

Herman  Stehfest  ..............  Saxony,  25  ........  Wagonmaker,  Detroit  ......  Aug.    5 

John    Sterling  .................  Ohio,  21  ..........  Farmer,  Girard  ............  2 

Alexander  Stewart  .............  Canada,  26  ........  Mechanic,   Detroit  .........  7 

Victor  Sutler,  jr  ..............  France,   19  ........  Silversmith,  Detroit  ........  8 


324  HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

NATIVITY    AND  OCCUPATION     AND 

RANK    AND    NAME.  ^  RESIDENCE.  ENLISTED. 

William  Thompson New  York,  18. . . .   Sailor,  Monroe Aug.  n 

Michael  Tiernay Ireland,  23 Foundryman,  Detroit July  23 

Hugh  F.  Vanderlip Niles,  23 Machinist,  Detroit Aug.  n 

Lewis  L.  Wadsworth Redford,  20 Machinist,  Detroit n 

Thomas  A.  Wadsworih "         18 Tinsmith,    Detroit n 

David  Wagg England,  35 Laborer,  Detroit 7 

Philip    Weitz Germany,  25 Laborer,  Detroit 8 

Charles  Willaird "           21 Laborer,  St.  Johns n 

Robert  Wortley.    Canada,  25 Laborer,  Detroit n 

Francis  Wright ...  .Detroit.  18 Farmer,  Wyandotte n 

Andrew  Wright New  York,  21 Farmer,  Monroe    Co n 

William  Ziegler Detroit,   23 Tinsmith,  Detroit 4 

George  Zulch Germany,  34 Laborer,  Detroit 4 

COMPANY  B. 

Officers:  1862. 

Capt.  ISAAC  W.  INGERSOLL England,   50 Builder,   Detroit July  26 

ist  Lt.  WM.  H.  REXFORD Napoleon,  26 Lawyer,  Detroit 26 

2d  Lt.  F.  AUGUSTUS  BUHL Detroit,  19 Student,  Detroit 26 

Sergeants: 

1.  John  Witherspoon Canada,  22 Printer,  Detroit 24 

2.  Andrew  J.   Price Detroit,  25 Plumber,   Detroit. 24 

3.  George  H.  Pinkney Pennsylvania,  29. .  Molder,  Wyandotte Aug.  12 

4.  John  J.  Duryea Long  Island,   21. .  .Printer,  Detroit July  24 

5.  George  Cline Germany,  29 Cigarmaker,  Detroit 24 

Corporals: 

1.  Martin  L.  Peavy New  York,  29 Cooper,  Detroit , Aug.    i 

2.  Robert  Gibbons 23 Printer,  Detroit July  24 

3.  James  R.   Havens N.  Hampshire,  35.. Joiner,  Trenton Aug.    2 

4.  Chas.  H.  McConnell Ireland,  21 Printer,  Detroit July  24 

5.  John  M.   Reed Ohio,  29 Cigarmaker,  Detroit 25 

6.  Samuel  W.  Church Dexter,  23 Printer,  Detroit 24 

7.  James  S.   Booth Canada,  20 Printer,  Detroit 29 

8.  John  C.   Alvord Grosse  Isle,   24.  ..  .Farmer,  Trenton Aug.    9 

Musicians — 

Herman  Krumbach Detroit,   15 Plumber,  Detroit July  24 

John  H.    Pardington England,  23 Clerk,  Trenton Aug.    6 

Wagoner — 
David  Wake Germany,  44 Teamster,   Detroit July  29 

Privates: 

Duncan  S.  Alexander New  York,  23 Sawyer,  Wyandotte Aug.  II 

Andrew  J.   Arnold "            30 Blacksmith,  Detroit 3 

Leander  Bauvere Detroit,  24 Sailor,  Trenton 12 

Asa  W.    Brindle Pennsylvania,  22.  .Clerk,  Wyandotte n 

Lewis  A.  Baldwin Ohio,  31 Farmer,  Wyandotte i  r 

Francis  Baysley Connecticut,  21.. .  .Laborer,  Wyandotte n 

John  Black •  •  •  • Scotland,  38 Ropemaker,  Detroit.- 9 


ORIGINAL   MEMBERS.  325 

NATIVITY    AND  OCCUPATION     AND 

RANK    AKD    NAME.  ^  RESIDENCE.  ENLISTED. 

Henry  Brown Canada,  19 Foundryman,  Wyandotte.  .Aug.  II 

Willett  Brown New  York,  25 Miller,  Detroit July  3° 

Amander  G.  Barns "  17 Printer,  Detroit Aug.  13 

Anson  B.  Culver "  30 Musician,  Detroit 12 

Thomas  Coope England,  41 Carpenter,   Detroit July  29 

Err  Cady New  York,  21 Butcher,   Trenton Aug.    9 

William  Carroll Ireland,  24 Waiter,  Detroit July  26 

Edward  B.  Chope Sylvan,   22 Painter,  Detroit Aug.    8 

Edward  Carbrey New  York,  27 Farmer,  Wayne  Co 9 

Richard  Conners Detroit,  20 Spicemiller,  Detroit July  28 

Benjamin  H.  Conwell New  York,  39 Iron-worker,  Wyandotte. .  .Aug.  n 

Frederick  Delosh Deerfield,  19 Iron-worker,  Wyandotte...  12 

Mathew  Duncan Scotland,  30 Unknown,  Detroit July  24 

Clark  Davis. New  York,  27 Laborer,  Greenfield Aug.    9 

Samuel  Davis Detroit,  18 Dairyman,  Detroit July  28 

John  R.   Donaldson Ohio,   26 Ironheater,  Wyandotte Aug.  n 

Edward  Dwyer Ireland,  20 Spicemiller,  Detroit July  28 

Oscar  A.   Eckliff New  York  City, 28. Carpenter,  Detroit Aug.    5 

Joseph  French England,  18 Printer,  Detroit July  25 

Henry  M.  Fielding New  York,  24 Clerk,  Detroit Aug.    5 

William  H.  Fowler Canada,    20 Boxmaker,  Detroit 9 

Christopher  Gero Switzerland,  21. ...  Furrier,  Detroit July  24 

George  H.    Graves Connecticut,  30... Clerk,  Detroit Aug.    8 

William  Hicks Ireland,  23 Tailor,  Detroit 5 

Lionel  B.  Hartt Vermont,  30 Teacher,  Detroit 6 

James  Hanmer,  jr Detroit,  19 Tobacconist,  Detroit July  28 

Charles  Henson England,  38 Bootmaker,  Greenfield Aug.    9 

John  Hackett Ireland,  23 Sailor,  Detroit 13 

Frank  Hicks Wayne  Co.,  28.  ..  .Ironheater,  Wyandotte n 

George  F.  Higbee Connecticut,  43 ...  Sailor,  Detroit July  31 

Robert  Henry Ireland,  26 Carpenter,  Detroit 23 

Nathaniel  A.  Halstead Canada,  20 Farmer,  Trenton Aug.  12 

Henry  B.   Hudson    Michigan,  20 Merchant,  Trenton    9 

Franz  Koch Germany,  25 Baker,  Chicago 9 

Anton  Krapohl 27 Book-keeper,  Ann  Arbor.  . .  9 

Jacob  Klinck "  18 Laborer,  Detroit July  30 

William  Lloyd Pontiac,  31 Farmer,  Wyandotte Aug.  12 

Arthur  G.  Lynch "         18 Farmer,  Greenfield 2 

Joseph  J.  Lucas England,  50 Carpenter,  Detroit     July  24 

Richard  Ladore Ann  Arbor,  19  ...  .Cooper,  Detroit Aug.    I 

James  McKnight Canada,  19 Chain  maker,  Wyandotte. .  .  n 

Alonzo  C.  Mercer New  York,  20. . . .    Printer,    Detroit   July  31 

Richard  Maloney Ireland,  38 Laborer,  Detroit 30 

John  McCutcheon New  York,  23.    . .  .Printer,  Detroit 29 

Terrence  McCullough Ireland,  21 Barkeeper,  Detroit 29 

John   McCrudden England,  19 Miller,  Trenton Aug.    6 

Joseph  E.  McConnell Ireland,  18 Printer,  Detroit not  must'd 

James  Mcllhiny "       21 Miller,  Trenton Aug.    6 


326  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH  MICHIGAN. 

NATIVITY   AND  OCCUPATION   AND 

RANK   AND   NAME.  ^  RESIDENCE. 

Henry  C.  McDonald Scotland,  29 Farmer,  Brownstown Aug.  13 

William  W.  Macard Illinois,  41 Fruitdealer,  Detroit 12 

Arthur  Macy Massachusetts,  20.  Printer,  Detroit 13 

Daniel  Mara Ireland,  20 Spicemiller,  Detroit ]uly  28 

Patrick  Melone "       20 Laborer,  Dearborn Aug.  n 

Charles  D.  Minckler Germany,  28 Carpenter,  Detroit 9 

James  T.  Newington New  York,  27 Carpenter,  Wyandotte 13 

Thomas  Nixon Ireland,  32 Farmer,  Oakland 12 

Daniel  O'Beere "       26 Laborer,  Detroit n 

Timothy  O'Connor "       18 Ostler,  Detroit July  29 

James  Pender "       19 Ironworker,  Wyandotte. . .  .  Aug.  12 

Thomas  Potter "       27 Farmer,  Wayne  Co July  25 

John  S.  Rider Detroit,  23 Mason,  Detroit Aug.  12 

James  Roach New  York,  29 Cigarmaker,  Detroit July  25 

Edward  A.  Raynor "  30 Molder,  Dundee Aug.    9 

David  Reed Ireland,  20 Farmer,  Hamtramck 9 

Andrew  Simmons Flint,  23 Engineer,  Wyandotte 13 

William  Smith  ist England,  24 Sailor,   Detroit 5 

William  Smith  2d New  York,  22 Ferryman,  Trenton n 

Daniel  Sullivan Ireland,  27 Mason,  Detroit n 

Patrick  Shannon "      27 Mason,  Detroit July  25 

Morris  Troutt Canada,  19 Laborer,  Wyandotte Aug.  12 

James  Tyrill Ohio,  43 Laborer,  Wyandotte n 

Lafayette  Veo Canada,  23 Farmer,  Trenton 6 

Jeston  R.  Warner Newport,  26 Sawyer,  Wyandotte n 

Henry  Wallace Ohio,   35 Shoemaker,   Port  Huron...  u 

Nathan  Way New  York,  44 Carpenter,  Detroit 12 

William  Williams '  England,  30 Weaver,  Dearborn 9 

Elisha  Wheeler New  York,  30 Cooper,  Detroit 13 

William  H.  Wills "  27 Farmer,  Wyandotte n 


COMPANY  C. 

Officers:  1862. 

Capt.  CALVIN  B.  CROSBY New  York,  32 Merchant,  Plymouth July  26 

ist  Lt.  CHARLES  A.  HOYT New  York,  35 Farmer,  Plymouth 26 

2d  Lt.  WINFIELD  S.  SAFFORD Canton,  21 Farmer,  Plymouth 26 

Sergeants  : 

1.  Charles  Westfall New  York,  26  ...  .Sawyer,  Plymouth Aug.    5 

2.  Lucius  L.  Shattuck Plymouth,   25 Farmer,  Plymouth 5 

3.  Augustus  Pomeroy New  York,  25 Farmer,   Salem 

4.  Willard  Roe Plymouth,   24 Joiner,  Plymouth 8 

5.  Asa  Joy Redford,  22 Miller,  Plymouth 6 

Cor  petals  : 

1.  Abel  G.  Peck Connecticut,  42. ..  .Farmer,  Nankin 6 

2.  Oscar  N.  Loud New  York,  28 Molder,  Plymouth 9 

3.  William  E.  Sherwood New  York,  27 Agent,  Plymouth 12 

4.  James  Gillespie Plymouth,  25   ...  .Farmer,  Plymouth 9 


ORIGINAL   MEMBERS.  327 

NATIVITY    AND  OCCUPATION  AND 

RANK  AND  NAME.  ^  RESIDENCE.  ENLISTED. 

5.  Daniel  McPherson Oakland,  24 Farmer,  Plymouth Aug.    9 

6.  DeVVitt  C.  Taylor New  York,  36 Carpenter,   Plymouth 5 

7.  Clark  Eddy New  York,  19 Farmer,  Plymouth 12 

8.  Charles   Pinkerton Novi,  22 Farmer,  Plymouth 9 

Musician —  * 

Charles  A.  Phillips Maine,  15 Student,  Detroit 25 

Wagoner — 

Nelson  H.  May New  York  City, 28. .Town  officer,  Plymouth. ...  5 

Privates : 

D.  Leroy  Adams Plymouth,   28 Farmer,   Canton 6 

Thomas  A.  Armstrong New  York,  21 Farmer,  Livonia 9 

William  H.  Brigham Wayne  Co.,  2t. .  .  .Farmer.  Plymouth 5 

Benjamin  F.  Brigham Livonia,  32 Mason,  Plymouth 5 

Charles  Burr Plymouth,  22 Farmer,  Plymouth 5 

Forest  C.  Brown New  York,  25 Farmer,  Livonia 9 

John  A.  Bartlett Vermont,  25 Farmer,  Canton 8 

Thomas  B.  Ballou Nankin,  22 Farmer,  Nankin 5 

William  W.   Barton New  York,  44 Farmer,  Livonia 9 

John  W.  Babbitt New  York,  29 Farmer,  Salem 9 

Oscar  N.  Baker New  York,  23 Farmer,  Plymouth 9 

Alfred  Courtrite New  York,  20 Farmer,  Plymouth 5 

Charles  H .  Coggs well New  York,  27 Farmer,  Plymouth 14 

George  L.  Coggswell New  York,  24 Farmer,  Plymouth .  5 

Am  mi  R.  Collins Flint,  19 Laborer,  Plymouth 5 

Norman  Collins New  York,  24 Carpenter,  Plymouth 6 

Edward  M.  Cory New  York,  37 Carpenter,  Plymouth 5 

James  B.  Crosby New  York,  35 Farmer,  Livonia 6 

Roswell  B.  Curtiss Nankin,  21 Farmer,  Nankin 8 

Charles  D.  Durfee Livonia,   20 Farmer,  Plymouth 9 

Edgar  O.  Durfee Livonia,   19 Farmer,  Plymouth 8 

Henry  C.  Dennis Livonia,  26 Farmer,  Salem 8 

Ezra  E.  Derby Nankin,  22 Farmer,  Canton 9 

John  M.  Doig Salem,  23 Farmer,  Salem 8 

Charles  R.  Dobbins Canada,  18 Farmer,  Plymouth 5 

Robert  Everson Maine,  28 Filemaker,  Plymouth 9 

Watson  W.  Eldridge New  York,  19: ...  .Farmer,   Livonia 9 

Samuel  W.  Foster England,  25 Farmer,    Livonia 5 

Sebri  H.   Fairman Canton,  24 Farmer,  Plymouth 7 

Jacob  Farley New  York,  27. ...   Farmer,  Livonia 9 

James  T.  Gunsolly Plymouth,   18 Clothdresser,  Plymouth. . .  7 

Charles  H  Holbrook Plymouth,   28 Laborer,   Plymouth 5 

Hiram  W.  Hughes New  York,  18 Laborer,  Plymouth.    .....  9 

William  F.  Hughes Canada,  26 Blacksmith,  Plymouth 5 

Aiken  Holloway   New  York,  36..    .  .Painter,  Plymouth 13 

George  W.  Hoysington New  York,  36 Farmer,  Plymouth 5 

Alvah  S.  Hill New  York,  36 Farmer,  Canton 5 

Wm.  A.  Herrendeen Plymouth,  21 Blacksmith,  Plymouth 8 

Alfred  W.  Hanmer New  York,  23 Blacksmith,  Plymouth 9 


328  HISTORY   OF   THE    TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

NATIVITY    AND  OCCUPATION    AND 

RANK    AND    NAME.  ^  RESIDENCE.  ENLISTED. 

George  P.  Hubbell New  York,  20 Farmer,  Nankin Aug.     9 

Bela  C.  Ide New  York,  20 Blacksmith,  Plymouth 8 

Samuel  Joy Redford,  19 Miller,  Plymouth 9 

John  H.  Janes New  York,  26 Farmer,  Salem 8 

Oliver  C.  Kelley Northville,  20. . . .    Farmer,  Plymouth 5 

George  W.  Kynoch Detroit,  27 Farmer,  Plymouth 7 

William   Kells New  York,  20 Farmer,  Salem 9 

James  M.  Loud New  York,  32 Laborer,  Plymouth 5 

Bristol  A.  Lee Plymouth,  25 Laborer,  Plymouth 9 

William   A.  Lewis New  York,  37 Farmer,  Plymouth 9 

Andrew  B.  Lanning Plymouth,.  20 Blacksmith,  Nankin 9 

Alonzo  B.   Markham Plymouth,   19 Farmer,  Plymouth 5 

James  McKee Ireland,  24 Farmer,  Plymouth 5 

Joshua  Minthorn   New  York,  28 Carpenter,  Plymouth 5 

William  McLaughlin New  York,  35 Mason,   Plymouth 7 

Calvin   Maxfield New  York,  23 Blacksmith,  Plymouth. .... 

John  C.  Marshall New  York,  31 Blacksmith,  Plymouth 8 

Alfred  Noble Livonia,  18 Farmer,  Livonia 9 

Nelson  Pooler Maine,  18 Farmer,   Canton 5 

John  Passage,  jr Plymouth,   27 Farmer,  Plymouth 

Samuel  W.  Phillips Rhode  Island,  21 .  .Farmer,   Salem 8 

William  H.  Quance Canada,  21 Farmer,  Salem 9 

John  E.  Ryder .  .    .  .Livonia,  19 Farmer,   Livonia 9 

Ambrose  Roe Plymouth,    22 Farmer,  Plymouth 5 

Rosvvell  L.  Root Plymouth,    21 Book-keeper,  Plymouth.  ...  12 

Charles  W.  Root Plymouth,  24 Saloonkeeper,   Plymouth. .  .  9 

Joseph  A.  Safford Canton,  21 Farmer,   Canton 13 

David  B.  Stevens New  York,  19. ...  .Farmer,   Canton 5 

Otis  Southworth New  York,  28 Engineer,  Plymouth 9 

Christian  Stockfleth Germany,  32 Laborer,   Plymouth 7  ' 

James  S.  Seeley New  York,  35 Farmer,  Plymouth 8 

Frank  T.  Stewart New  York,  18 Shoemaker,  Plymouth 8 

John  A.  Sherwood New  York,  31 Joiner,  Nankin 9 

George  W.   Soper New  York,  27 Joiner,  Plymouth 9 

Robert  Towers England,  36 Shoemaker 7 

William  U.  Thayer Plymouth,  21 Farmer,  Plymouth 9 

Ralph  G.  Terry Canada,  30 Farmer,  Plymouth 9 

Abraham  Velie New  York,  20 Laborer,   Plymouth 5 

Orson  Westfall Plymouth,  23 Laborer,   Plymouth 5 

Alfred  C.  Willis Plymouth,  18 Laborer,   Plymouth 5 

George  R.  Welsh New  York,  29 Farmer,  Plymouth 6 

Minot  S.  Weed Salem,  18 Farmer,  Plymouth 9 

William  H.  Whallon New  York,  27 Farmer,  Plymouth 13 

COMPANY    D. 

Officers: 

Capt.  WM.  J.  SPEED New  York,   31 Lawyer,  Detroit July  26 

ist  Lt.  JOHN  M.  FARLAND New  York,  27 Teacher,  Dearborn 26 

2d  Lt.  CHARLES  C.  YEMANS New  York,  28 Minister,  Redford 26 


ORIGINAL    MEMBERS.  329 

NATIVITY    AND  OCCUPATION     AND 

RANK    AND    NAME.  AQ£  RESIDENCE. 

Sergeants: 

1.  George  W.   Haigh New  York,   23 Farmer,  Dearborn Aug.  12 

2.  Francis  Raymond,  jr Detroit,   19 Book-keeper,  Detroit July  24 

3.  E.  Ben.   Fischer Michigan,   21 Clerk,  Detroit Aug.  12 

4.  Charles  A.  King New  York,  29 Carpenter,  Detroit 

5.  George  E.   Moore Dearborn,  20 Farmer,  Dearborn 7 

Corporals: 

1.  Orin  D.  Kingsley Ohio,  20 Farmer,   Romulus.  .  .    13 

2.  William  F.   Hicks New  York,  22 Farmer,  Wayne  Co 2 

3.  Jabez  Walker England,  27 Cooper,   Detroit July  24 

4.  George  W.  Chrouch New  York,  19 Teacher,   Dearborn 19 

5.  Joseph  Eberle Canada,  24 Shoemaker,  Canton Aug.  13 

6.  George  W.  Segar Redford,   30 Carpenter,    Dearborn 4 

7.  Andrew  C.  Chamberlin Ash,   19 Farmer,  Flat  Rock 13 

8.  William  Funke Germany,   18 Cigarmaker,  Detroit July  24 

Fifer— 

Anthony  Thelan Germany,   29 Tinsmith,   Detroit 31 

Drummer — 
Henry  D.  Chilson Huron,  16 Farmer,  Van  Buren Aug.    8 

Wagoner — 
John  Hamley England,   36    Carpenter,  Datroit 7 

Privates: 

Amos  Abbott Canada,  31 Farmer,   Romulus 

John  M.  Andres Germany,   22 Blacksmith,   Detroit 

Persons  H.  Brace New  York,   20 Farmer,   Redford 7 

Peter  C.  Bird Romulus,  21 Farmer,  Romulus   12 

Robert  C.  Bird Romulus,  18 Farmer,   Romulus I 

James  N.  Bartlett Plymouth,  23 Farmer,    Nankin 13 

Henry  Babcock Canada,  18 Wagon  maker,  Canton 13 

Henry  S.   Baker Connecticut,  38. .  ..Civil  Engineer,   Detroit. ..  .July  29 

Ludovico  Bowles Bruce,   23 Farmer,  Wayne  Co Aug.  12 

Abram  F.  Burden Lima,  20 Farmer,  Lima 12 

Orson  B.  Curtis Nankin,  21 Student,  Wayne 12 

Clark  Chase New  York,  37 Laborer,  Wayne 5 

Sirel  Chilson .  .Huron,  19 Teacher,  Van  Buren 5 

Eliphalet  Carleton Canton,  19   Farmer,  Canton 5 

Reuben  Cory New  York,  25 Farmer,  Romulus 12 

George  H.  Cheney Dearborn,  25 Farmer,  Dearborn 7 

Francis  Demay Dearborn,  18 Farmer,  Dearborn 5 

John  Danbert Germany,   20 Gasfitter,  Detroit 13 

John  Dwyer Romulus,   17 Farmer,   Romulus 

Richard  Downing England,  35 Farmer,  Dearborn 12 

Anthony  Eberts Germany,  20 Blacksmith,   Detroit 6 

Joseph  Funke Germany,  20 Mason,  Detroit 12 

John  Groth Germany,  18 Laborer,  Detroit.. July  25 

Thomas  Hall England,  45 Laborer,  Springwells Aug.  12 

Merritt  Heath Van  Buren,  21  ...  .Laborer,   Belleville 13 

Almon  J.  Houston Ohio,   22 Blacksmith,  Wayne 2 


33O  HISTORY  OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

RANK    AND    NAME.  NATIVITY    AND  OCCUPATION     AND  ENLISTED. 

AGE.  RESIDENCE. 

William  II.  Houston Ohio,   19 Blacksmith,  Wayne Aug.  13 

Shepherd  L.  Howard Massachusetts,  31.. Engineer,  Dearborn 12 

Oliver  Herrick Vermont,  45 Farmer,  Dearborn 7 

Draugott  Haberstrite Saxony,  21.  ...      ..Farmer,  Dearborn 4 

William  Hall New  York,  26 Farmer,   Romulus 8 

Frank  Heig Germany,  45 Weaver,  Detroit July  24 

William  H.  Jackson New  York,  20  ...  .Laborer,  Wayne Aug   13 

James  H.  Johnson Wayne,   19 Farmer,  Dearborn 5 

Conrad  Kocher New  York,  24 Shoemaker,  Detroit July  25 

John  H.   Kingsley New  York,  23 Farmer,  Romulus Aug.  12 

Samuel  R.   Kingsley,  jr Ohio,  19 Farmer,   Romulus 8 

Jacob  Kaiser Germany,  22 Blacksmith,  Detroit II 

William  B.  Knapp New  York,  24 Student,  Detroit 7 

George  H.  Lang Canton,  22 Farmer,  Canton 13 

Peter  F.  Lantz   Germany,  26 Laborer,   Dearborn 7 

Henry  H.  Ladd Dearborn,  21 Farmer,  Dearborn .  .- 7 

James  Lindsay Scotland,  42' Carpenter,  Detroit July  28 

John  Moody Dearborn,  21 Farmer,  Dearborn Aug.    9 

Fernando  W.  Moon Van  Buren,  21  ...  .Farmer,  Bellville 8 

Oliver  M.  Moon Van  Buren,  23 Farmer,  Bellville 1 1 

Walter  Morley England,  40 Painter,  Detroit 15 

Henry  H.  Mills Oakland,  21 Jeweller,  Bellville 12 

John  Neuman England,  18 Farmer,  Redford 13 

Wm.  T.  Nowland Huron,  24 Farmer,  Huron 13 

Michael  O'Brien Ireland,  23 Farmer,  Dearborn 6 

John  Orth Germany,   22 Cooper,  Detroit July  24 

Robert  Polk England,  33 Farmer,  Redford Aug.    2 

Alexander  Purdy Dearborn,  19 Farmer,  Dearborn 7 

Theodore  Palmer Dearborn,  25 Farmer,  Dearborn 7 

Mason  Palmer Dearborn,  22 Farmer,  Dearborn 7 

Richard  Palmer Dearborn,  21 Farmer,  Dearborn 12 

Henry  Palmer Dearborn,  24 Farmer,  Dearborn 12 

James  Palmer . Dearborn,  21 Farmer,  Dearborn 12 

George  L.  Packard Wayne  Co  ,   18  .  .  .  .Laborer,  Wayne 13 

George  B.  Parsons England,  44 Tinsmith,  Detroit July  25 

James  Renton Scotland,  24 Farmer,  Van  Buren Aug.  II 

John  Renton Scotland,  20 Farmer,  Van  Buren u 

Charles  Ruff Dearborn,  19 Farmer,  Dearborn 8 

Horace  Rofe Grosse  Isle,  21  ...  .Farmer,  Grosse  Isle 13 

Henry  W.  Randall New  York,   22 Farmer,  Birmingham 4 

William  M.   Ray New  York,  30 Farmer,  Canton 

Andrew  Rich New  York,  19 Farmer,  Canton 12 

Lorenz  Raizer Germany,   18 Shoemaker,  Detroit July  25 

George  P.  Roth Germany,  37 Tailor,  Detroit 25 

David  E.  Rounds Dearborn,  21 Farmer,   Nankin Aug.  12 

Andrew  Strong Germany,  26 Farmer,  Dearborn 12 

James  Sterling Canton,  23 Farmer,  Canton 12 

Melvin  H.  Storms Chicago,  21 Farmer,  Nankin II 


ORIGINAL   MEMBERS.  331 

NATIVITY   AND  OCCUPATION   AND 

RANK  AXD  NAME.  ^  RESIDENCE.  ENLISTED. 

William  W.  Sands New  York,  26 Carpenter,  Bellville Aug.  n 

Newell  Stevens Canton,  17 Farmer,  Canton n 

John  Stange Germany,  18 Mason,  Detroit 6 

Peter  Stack Germany,  18 Cigarmaker,  Detroit July  24 

John  B.   Turney Dearborn,  23 Machinist,   Dearborn Aug.  12 

Aldrich   Townsend Romulus,  24 Farmer,  Romulus 7 

Albert  A.  Wallace Dearborn,  20 Farmer,  Dearborn 5 

Jesse  R.  Welch New  York,  28 Carpenter,  Dearborn 5 

George  Wetterich Germany,  24 Laborer,  Detroit u 


COMPANY  E. 

Officers :  1862. 

Capt.  JAMES  CULLEN Ireland,  41 Contractor,  Detroit July  26 

ist  Lt.  JOHN  J.  LENNON Ireland,  26 Clerk,  Detroit 26 

2d  Lt.  MALACHI  J.  O'DONNELL.  .Ireland,  24 Printer,  Detroit 26 

Sergeants  : 

1.  John  Galloway Ireland,  23 Printer,  Detroit 21 

2.  Timothy  Finn Ireland,  23 Printer,  Detroit 21 

3.  Patrick  W.  Nolan Detroit,  19 Tinsmith,  Detroit Aug.    4 

4.  Rice  F.   Bond Vermont,  32 Jeweler,  Detroit July  23 

5.  Michael  Dempsey New  York,  31 Printer,  Detroit 21 

Corporals  : 

1.  Amos  C.  Rodgers Vermont,  40.    Carpenter,  Detroit 24 

2.  John   Blackwell Ireland,  19 Blacksmith,  Detroit Aug.  n 

3.  Frederick  Wright England,  21 Tailor,    Detroit July  31 

4.  John  Hogan Ireland,  23 Laborer,    Detroit. Aug.    8 

5.  Michael  Finn Ireland,  27 Gardener,    Detroit 9 

6.  John  McDermott Ireland,  21 Plumber,  Detroit July  24 

7.  Eugene  Smith Sandwich,    19 Blacksmith,  Detroit 25 

8.  John  W.  Fletcher New  York,  18 Engineer,  Detroit 25 

Fifer— 

James  Kidd Scotland,  18 Baker^Detroit 24 

Drummer — 
Charles  E.  Pascoe Long  Island,   18 .  . .  Baker,  Detroit 23 

Wagoner — 

James  M.  Bullard New  York,  41 Shoemaker,  Detroit 23 

Privates  : 

Harvey    Allen New  York  City,  21. .Laborer,  Romulus Aug.    5 

Moses  Amo Ash,  19 Farmer,  Wayne  Co n 

Sidney  P.  Bennett Michigan,  25 Unknown,   Unknown July  30 

Joseph  R.  Boyle Ireland,  26 Printer,  Detroit 22 

George  Brott   Dis't  Columbia, 40. .Shoemaker,  Detroit Aug.    5 

Charles  Bellore Canada,  31 Laborer,  Detroit n 

Thomas  Brennon Ireland,  18 Molder,  Detroit July  23 

William  Bruskie Prussia,  19 Farmer,  Nankin Aug.    5 

Thomas  Burns Ireland,  27 Laborer,  Detroit 14 


332  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

NATIVITY    AND  OCCUPATION    AND 

RANK    AND    NAME.  ^  RESIDENCE. 

Henry  Conrad Bavaria,  45 Laborer,  Detroit July  28 

Michael  Cavanaugh Ireland,  35 Laborer,  Detroit Aug.    2 

Patrick  Coffee Ireland,  29 Laborer,  Detroit 4 

Cornelius  Crimmins Detroit,  19 Boilermaker,  Detroit July  25 

Lucius  W  Chubb Nankin,  19 Farmer,  Nankin Aug.    5 

Arthur  S.  Congdon Sylvan,  23. Farmer,  Chelsea 13 

Patrick  Conlon Ireland,  23 Sailor,  Detroit 7 

Gilbert  A.  Dickey  (  N.  C.  S  ). . .  .Michigan,  19 Farmer,  Marshall 12 

Louis  Dale Sweden,  38 Sailor,  Detroit 4 

Martin  Devine . .  .Ireland,  41 Trader,  Detroit July  24 

James  Dee Ireland,  23 Laborer,  Detroit 28 

Dennis  Dryden Ireland,  18 Blacksmith,  Detroit Aug.  n 

Stephen  Delorme New  York,  24 Painter,   Detroit 4 

Patrick  G.  Dollard Ireland,  28 Varnisher,  Detroit 13 

James  Doyle New  York  City,  22. .Carpenter,  Detroit July  28 

Owen  Donovan Ireland,  23   Engineer,    Detroit Aug.  18 

Alonzo  Eaton  (  N.  C.  S.)   New  York,  26 Clerk,  Detroit u 

Thomas  D.  Elision England,  20 Painter,   Detroit n 

Carl   Ellis New  York,  29 Sailor,  Detroit July  26 

John   Frank Detroit,  23 Painter,   Detroit Aug.    5 

William  Floyd Canada,  26 Boilermaker,    Detroit 4 

Patrick  Fury Ireland,  24 Carpenter,   Detroit    14 

Robert  Gaunt Hamtramck,  24.  .  .Laborer,  Detroit 12 

Lewis  Grant Scotland,  32 Sailor,    Detroit 4 

John  Grabriel Switzerland,  42.  . .  .Farmer,  Wayne  Co July  31 

Thomas   Gibbons Ireland,  44 Peddler,  Detroit. 25 

Isaac  L.  Greusel New  York,  18 Laborer,  Springwells Aug.  12 

Joseph  Green England,  18 Musician,    Detroit 13 

John   Hunt Ireland,  44 Laborer,  Detroit July  26 

Joseph  Hirsch Ohio,  20 Clerk,  Detroit Aug.  25 

James   D.  Jackson New  York,  23 Carpenter,  Detroit 

Frank  Kendrick England,  32 Sailor,   1  'etroit i 

William  Kelly Ireland,  22 Blacksmith,  Detroit ir 

Frederick  W.  Kuhn Prussia,  42 Farmer,  Wayne  Co 6 

Patrick  J.  Kinney Ireland,  30 Shoemaker,  Detroit 16 

Andrew  Kelley Ireland,  22 Baker,  Detroit July  30 

James  R.  Kernan New  Jersey,  24.  ..  .Plasterer,  Detroit Aug.  14 

James  Laird Scotland,  35 Laborer,  Detroit 

John  Lee Ireland,  24 Laborer,  Detroit July  26 

James  S.  Murphy Windsor,   22 Tel.  Op'r,  Detroit 24 

Hugh  Murphy Canada,  23 Carpenter,  Detroit 25 

Evens  H.   McCloud Vermont,  28 Cooper,  Detroit 23 

George  D.  McGiveron Ireland,  40 Carpenter,  Detroit 28 

John  McGeary Ireland,  26 Sailor,  Detroit Aug.    i 

John   Moynehan Ireland,  32 Laborer,  Detroit 

Henry   Moynahan Ireland,  18 Sailor,  Detroit 5 

Thomas  G.  Norton Detroit,  20 Roofer,  Detroit July  25 

Andrew  Nelson Sweden,  18 Farmer,  Wayne  Co Aug.  14 


ORIGINAL   MEMBERS.  333 

NATIVITY    AND  OCCUPATION    AND 

RANK    AND    NAME.  ^  RESIDENCE.  KNLISTED. 

George  Nugent Ireland,  25 Laborer,  Detroit ]uly  28 

Thomas  O'Connor Ireland,  21 Tailor,  Detroit Aug.  12 

Michael  O'Neil Ireland,  22 Tailor,   Detroit 13 

Thomas  S.  Orton New  York,   26 Printer,   Detroit July  23 

Charles  Paton Detroit,   20 Boilermaker,   Detroit 24 

William  Powers Detroit,   18 Drayman,  Detroit Aug.    5 

John  Proctor Wayne  Co.,  18 Boilermaker,  Springwells.  .  n 

Nelson  Felon Canada,  32 Shoemaker,  Detroit n 

Robert  Reed Canada,  22 Sailor,  Detroit 4 

John  Roche Ireland,  18 Blacksmith,   Detroit 

Garrett  Rourke Ireland,  41 Shoemaker,  Detroit n 

John  Southard. N.  York  City,  22. ..  Molder,   Detroit •  9 

John  Schultz Prussia,  26 Farmer,  Wayne  Co 5 

Thomas  Stackpole Detroit,   24 Farmer,  Wayne  Co 5 

Frank  Schneider   Detroit,   18 Stonecutter,  Detroit 8 

Joseph  Smith England,  41 Shoemaker,  Detroit July  2O 

Frederick  Stotte Germany,  34 Laborer,   Detroit Aug.  1 1 

Joseph  Trumbradd Switzerland,  40. . .  .Laborer,  Detroit I 

Edward  Tracy New  York,  19 Sailor,  Detroit 12 

Patrick  Tunney Maine,  23 Sailor,  Detroit 5 

William  Vent Germany,   18 Brickmaker,   Springwells..  9 

James  E.  Whalon New  York,  30 Printer,  Detroit July  24 

Andrew   Waubecq Germany,  38 Stonecutter,  Detroit. ....  .Aug.    S 

Frederick  \Voods   Germany,  18 Teamster,  Detroit 

Henry  L.  Wood Michigan,  22 Wheelwright,   Chelsea 13 

James  P.  Wood Michigan,   26 Wheelwright,  Chelsea 13 

Erskine  Wood. . . . '. New  York,  23 Steward,  Detroit 14 

Demain  Wheelhouse England,  36 Laborer,  Chelsea 13 

John  Walls Ireland,  42 Cooper,  Detroit 13 


COMPANY  F. 

Officers:  1862. 

Capt.  ALBERT  M.  EDWARDS Maine,  26 Journalist,  Detroit July    26 

ist  Lt.  ARA  W.  SPRAGUE Unknown,  41 Detective,  Detroit 26 

2d  Lt.  JACOB  M.  HOWARD,  jr.  .  .  .Detroit,   20 Student,  Detroit 26 

Sergeants  : 

1.  Wm.  H.  Ingersoll Detroit,   21 Carpenter,  Detroit Aug.     6 

2.  Charles  Bucklin Michigan,   30 Wheelwright,  Van  Buren. .  .July    30 

3.  John  J.   Littlefield New  York,  31 Physician,    Ash Aug.  12 

4.  Lewis  H.  Chamberlin Brownstown,    19.  .  .Clerk,  Ypsilanti 12 

5.  Wm.  B.  Hutchinson Detroit,  21 Carpenter,  Detroit. . July    24 

Corporals  : 

1.  Timothy  O.  Webster New  York,  31 Overseer,   Detroit 24 

2.  George  A.  Ross Michigan,   19 Student,   Detroit A.ug.  13 

3.  Oren  S.  Stoddard Pontiac,  26    Tinsmith,  Detroit 12 

4.  Andrew  Wagner Germany,  39 Stonecutter,  Detroit July  31 

5.  Benjamin  F.  Buyer Ohio,   21 Boilermaker,  Detroit 25 


334  HISTORY   OF 'THE   TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN. 

NATIVITY    AND  OCCUPATION    AND 

RANK    AND    NAME.  ENLISTED. 

AGE.  RESIDENCE. 

6.  John  J.  Sullivan Michigan,  26 Tinsmith,  Detroit Aug.  15 

7.  George  W.  Chilson Wayne  Co.,  19.  .  .  .Farmer,  Van  Buren July    3° 

8.  Levi  S.  Freeman Michigan,  22 Blacksmith,  Ypsilanti Aug.     3 

Musicians — 

William  W.  Graves New  York,  36 Painter,  Detroit 5 

Daniel  D.  Webster Ash,   18 Farmer,  Sharon 13 

Wagoner — 

Patrick  McGran Ireland,  23 Teamster,   Detroit 13 

Privates: 

August  Albrecht Prussia,  28 Laborer,   Ecorse 6 

Abram  Akey Canada,  36 Farmer,  Ecorse 13 

Louis  L.  Beaubien Detroit,  40 Carpenter,  Ecorse 13 

Anthony  Bondie Ecorse,    32 Laborer,   Ecorse 13 

Daniel  Bourassas Canada,  29 Laborer.   Ecorse 13 

William  S.  Bronson New  York,  42 Farmer,  Wayne  Co 13 

Joel  R.  Brace New   York,  30 Carpenter,  Bellville 13 

William  Bullock England,  45 Shoemaker,  Detroit July  24 

James  Burns Ireland,  30 Farmer,   Wayne  Co Aug.  7 

Thomas  Burns New   York,  26 Sailor,  Detroit n 

Jasper  Burt Michigan,   27 Farmer,  Van  Buren 6 

Edward  Burkhans Bremen,  34  ......  Laborer,  Detroit July  24 

David  H.  Campbell New  York,  21 Farmer,  Ypsilanti 30 

Henry  Chapman Scotland,   39 Tanner,  Detroit Aug.  14 

Frederick  Chavey France,   25 Farmer,  Redf ord 13 

Patrick  Connelly Ireland,  29 Brickmaker,  Springwells. ...  7 

Andrew  J.  Connor Detroit,   32 Clerk,   Detroit 5 

Amos  B.  Cooley Macomb  Co.,  18. .  .Farmer,  Livonia 5 

Joseph  Coryell New  York,  31 Farmer,  Olive 13 

Shelden  E.  Crittenden New  York,  25 Farmer,  Ypsilanti July  30 

John  Dougherty Ohio,   32 Shoemaker,   Detroit Aug.  5 

Iltid  W.   Evans Wales,   Eng.,  18.  .  .Student,   Detroit 13 

John  M.  Evans Michigan,    18 Teamster,  Detroit July  26 

Alexander  D.  Fales New  York,  19 Farmer,    Huron Aug.  13 

Francis  Flury St.  Clair  Co.,  39.  .  .Painter,  St.  Clair  Co July  29 

Peter  Ford Ireland,  30 Farmer  Wayne  Co Aug.  7 

Adolph  Fritsch France,   26 Peddler,  Detroit 12 

William  S.  Fox New  York,  45 Laborer,  Detroit July  26 

Edward  Gohir Belgium,   22 Farmer,  Wayne  Co Aug.  4 

Joseph  Gohir Belgium,  19 Farmer,  Wayne  Co 4 

Charles  Gochy .  Canada,  26 Laborer,  Ecorse 13 

Sullivan  D.  Green N.  Hampshire,  29.  .Journalist    Detroit 13 

Charles  E.  Hale Romulus,  18.    Farmer,  Romulus 1 1 

John  Hartmann Germany,   38 Farmer,  Warren 13 

Ludwig  Herzel Germany,   26 Laborer,  Detroit 5 

Christopher  Henne Germany,  25 Cabinetmaker,  Detroit 13 

Erastus  W.  Hine Ohio,  25 Farmer,  Monroe  Co 13 

Elmer  D.  Holloway New  York,  45 Wagonmaker,  Salem 13 


ORIGINAL   MEMBERS.  335 

NATIVITY    AND  OCCUPATION    AND 

RANK    AND    NAME.  ^  RESIDENCE.  ENLISTED. 

George  M.  Holloway New  Jersey,  44 Wagonmaker,  Salem Aug.    9 

James  Hubbard Lenawee,  32 Farmer,  Olive 13 

Charles  E.  Jenner Michigan,  21 Carpenter,  Van  Buren July    31 

Fayette  Jones Vermont,  29 Cooper,  Van  Buren Aug.     8 

John  G.   Klinck Germany,  30 Baker,  Detroit 13 

Irwin  W.  Knapp New  York,  19 Farmer,  Ypsilanti 1 1 

William  Kalsow Prussia,   22 Lastmaker,   Detroit July    24 

George  Krumbach Germany,    18 Gunsmith,   Detroit Aug.     5 

Antoine  La  Blanc Ecorse,  34. . .    Farmer,  Ecorse 13 

Gideon  Martin N.  Hampshire,  44. .  Sailor,   Detroit 8 

John  McNish Scotland,  30 Plasterer,  Detroit 13 

John  B.  Moores Monroe  Co.,  20. . .  .Farmer,   Plymouth 14 

Norbert  Multhaupt Prussia,   30 Shoemaker,  Redford 13 

Myron  Murdock Vermont,  44 Farmer,  Plymouth 6 

George  F.   Neef Germany,   34 Farmer,  Wayne  Co 6 

Isaac  Nelson Michigan,  33 Farmer,  Plymouth.    14 

Solomon  R.  Niles New  York,  42 Blacksmith,   Ypsilanti 8 

Edwin  E.  Norton  (N,  C.  S.) Michigan,   25 Clerk,  Detroit 16 

Frank  H.  Pixley „ New  York,  18 Farmer,  Rochester n 

Edwin  Plass New  York.  23 Farmer,  Ypsilanti 8 

Royal  L.  Potter Vermont,  42 Farmer,   Ash 14 

Charles  Raymond New  York,  26 Farmer,  Van  Buren 8 

Elisha  C.  Reed New  York,  40 Farmer,   Wayne  Co 13 

Julius  A.  Reynolds New  York,    37 Salesman,   Detroit 5 

Peter  P.  Rivard Macomb  Co. ,  22 ...  Farmer,  Wayne  Co .  .  10 

Joseph  P.  Rivard Macomb  Co. ,  22 .  .  .  Farmer,  Wayne  Co 10 

James  Robertson Ohio,  37 Agent,   Detroit 6 

James  D.  Shearer Scotland,  34 Upholsterer,   Detroit 6 

Henry  Seele Germany,  28 Brewer,  Detroit 13 

Frank  T.  Shier New  Jersey,    19   .  .    Farmer,  Ypsilanti 13 

William  R.  Shier New  Jersey,   22.  . .  .Farmer,  Ypsilanti 13 

Eugene  Sims    Ireland,    18 Farmer,  Nankin 13 

Albert  L.  Schmidt Prussia,    18 Clerk,  Detroit 13 

Nathan  Smith New  York,  22 Teamster,  Detroit 8 

Theodore  Smith Michigan,    35 Engineer,  Bellville July    30 

Willard  A.   Smith Newport.  18 Sailor,  Detroit 24 

John  Stoffold...    Germany,    18 Farmer,  Wyandotte Aug.  13 

Abel  P.  Turner New  York,  45 Music  Teacher,  Ypsilanti. .  July   24 

Josiah  P.  Turner Pittsfield,  28 Farmer,  Wyandotte Aug.  14 

Mathew  Wehrle Germany,   44 Clockmaker.    Detroit 5 

Marcus  G.  Wheeler Wayne  Co. .  18 Farmer,  Wayne  Co 8 

Mordaunt  Williams Plymouth,  30 Laborer,   Plymouth 12 

Ransford  Wilcox Sharon,  24 Miller,  Rochester n 

William  K.  Yates New  York,  25 Clerk.  Detroit .• 13 


336  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


COMPANY  G. 

NATIVITY    AND  OCCUPATION     AND 

NAME    AND    RANK.  ^  RRS1DENCE.  ENLISTED. 

Officers :  1862. 

Capt.  WM.    A.OWEN New  York,  27 Lawyer  Detroit July   26 

ist  Lt.  WM.   HUTCHINSON Canada,  22 Butcher,  Detroit 26 

2d  Lt.  GEO.  W.  BURCHELL England,  33 Contractor,    Detroit   26 

Sergeants  : 

1.  George  Hutton Scotland,  34 Clerk,    Detroit 24 

2.  Benj.  W.  Hendricks Monroe,   25 Farmer,  Brownstown Aug.  12 

3.  George  H.  Pettinger New  York  City,  27  .Carpenter,  Detroit 7 

4.  John  W.  McMillian Detroit,  21 Salesman,  Detroit July    24 

5.  Charles  H.  Chope Wayne  Co.,  18.  . .  .Carpenter,   Detroit 23 

Corporals  : 

1.  Joseph  J.  Watts    Maryland,  44 Manner,  Detroit 28 

2.  Wm.    M.  McNoah New  York,  21 Salesman,   Detroit Aug.     I 

3.  Joseph  G.   Thompson Detroit,  22 Butcher,  Detroit i 

4.  John  Tait England,  36.    Blacksmith,   Canton 8 

5.  Thomas  Jackson Pontiac,  19 Butcher,  Detroit July    31 

6.  Thomas  Suggett England,  20 Carpenter,   Detroit 24 

7.  Charles  H .  Owen   Missouri,  26 Engineer,   Detroit Aug.     8 

8.  George  O.  Colburn Vermont.  29 Farmer,   Ash 12 

Fifer — 

David  Blakely Michigan,   29 Farmer,  Sumpter 7 

Drummer — 

Willie  Young Detroit,  13 Student,   Detroit 15 

Wagoner — 

Benjamin  W.  Pierson New  York,  28 Carpenter,  Brownstown  ....  12 

Privates,1 

Amos  Andrews Plymouth,  26 Painter,  Detroit 8 

Wm.  A.  Armstrong Oakland,  19 Laborer,  Ash 12 

Charles  F.  Allyn Detroit,  18 Painter,    Detroit 12 

Ernest  F.  Argelbeim Germany,   18 Farmer,  Wayne  Co 7 

Elias  B.   Browning Detroit,   18 Painter,  Detroit July  24 

Peter  Batway Ohio,    28 Farmer,  Exeter Aug.  13 

Samuel  Brown Detroit,  26 Farmer,  Wayne  Co 7 

Joseph  McC.  Bale New  York,   21 Farmer,    Ash   12 

John  Broombar Germany,   18 Farmer,    Ash 12 

Henry  Bierkamp Germany,   22 Farmer,  Hamtramck 1 1 

John  Butler New  York,  21 Teamster,  Detroit 12 

Theodore  Bach Germany,   18 Peddler,  Detroit 9 

Lyman  W.  Blakely Huron,  18 Farmer,  Huron 2 

Michael  Brabau Hamtramck,  29   . .    Farmer,  Hamtramck 9 

Charles  O.  Baldwin Washentaw,    24.  ..  .Farmer,  Ash 12 

Henry  Collins Wayne  Co.,  19.  . .  .Farmer,  Hamtramck 8 

Charles  Coombs England,  21 Painter,  Detroit July  28 

Henry  Crothine Germany,  23 Carpenter,   Detroit Aug.  9 

John  Cole France,   1 8 Laborer,  Detroit 12 


ORIGINAL   MEMBERS.  337 

NATIVITY    AND  OCCUPATION    AND 

RANK  AMD  NAME.  AG£  RESIDENCE. 

John  Cavanaugh Detroit,    18 Painter,    Detroit   Aug.  12 

George  A.  Cod  wise   Macomb  Co. ,  25. ..  Farmer,   Ash 12 

Charles  Dennis New  York,  18 Farmer,  Brownstown g 

Sidney  B.  Dixon Detroit,   21 Musician,  Detroit 7 

Joseph   H.  Drew Canada,  36.  ..... .Mariner,  Detroit 8 

Edwin  Delong New  York,  18.    . .  .Farmer,  Brownstown 12 

John  M .  Dermody New  York,  1 8 Sailor,  Detroit 12 

Charles  H.  Dairy mple Pennsylvania,    19.  .Painter,  Detroit 12 

Peter  Euler Detroit,  22 Teamster,   Detroit 7 

James  Ford Scotland,    22   Gardener,    Detroit 7 

Jerome  P.   Fales Detroit,   19 Farmer,  Wayne  Co July    24 

John  Foster Europe,  18 Farmer,   Sumpter Aug.     7 

Garrett  Garrettson,  Jr New  Jersey,  34   .  .  .Farmer,  Brownstown 12 

William  R.  Graves Ohio,  25 Wagonmaker,  Huron.    12 

George  Hinmonger England,  22 Farmer,    Redford 8 

Edward  H.  Hamer Ohio,   31    Carpenter,  Detroit n 

Marion  Hamilton Sumpter,  18 Farmer,  Sumpter 7 

William  Harvey New  York,  22 Farmer,  Van  Buren 12 

Samuel  T.  Hendricks Wayne  Co.,  18. . .    Farmer,  Brownstown 12 

Michael  Hanrahan Detroit,  20   Molder,  Detroit July    24 

Patrick  Hefferman Ireland,  33 Drayman,  Detroit Aug.  13 

Wm.  H.  Jamieson Michigan,  23 Laborer,  Ash 12 

Edwin  Johnson Michigan,   23 Farmer,  Huron 7 

William  Jewel Salem,  21 Farmer,    Ash 7 

Lewis  W.  James Ohio,   25 Farmer,   Wayne  Co   13 

Sam'l  T.  Lautenschlager Monroe,  23 Farmer,  Ash 12 

Enoch  F.  Langs New  York,  19 Farmer,  Ash 12 

Charles  W.  Langs New  York,  22 Farmer,  Ash 12 

Julius  Lezotte Detroit,  22 Farmer,  Wayne  Co 7 

Peter  T.  Lezotte Michigan,   23 Farmer,  Wayne  Co n 

James  R.  Lewis Michigan,    18   Farmer,  Sumpter 7 

William  R.  Lewis Canada,  48 Blacksmith,  Sumpter 12 

William  H.  Luce New  York,  23 Clerk,   Detroit 7 

Edwin  Martin Huron,  18 Farmer,  Sumpter 7 

John  Martin Vermont,  24 Drover,  Detroit 7 

George  Martin Michigan,    21 Farmer,  Sumpter 7 

Charles  Martin New  York  City,  32.  .Farmer,  Sumpter 7 

Andrew  J.    M  artin N .  Hampshire,  29. .  Machinist,   Detroit 1 1 

William  Maiers Germany,   26 Unknown,    Detroit 15 

Charles  G.  Malley Monroe,  22 Farmer,   Ash 12 

Daniel  Munz New  York,  20 Sailor,  Detroit i 

Barney    McKay Ireland,  30 Laborer,  Detroit 1 1 

Silas  A.  McMillan Detroit,  19   Carpenter,   Detroit July    24 

Arden   H.  Olmstead Ypsilanti,  24 Farmer,  Ash Aug.  12 

George  Oakley Detroit,   20 Farmer,  Wayne  Co 

Douglas  M.  Page England,  27 Laborer,  Detroit 7 

John  T.  Paris England,  21 Tallow  ch'r,  Detroit 12 

Henry  Robinson England,  30 Carpenter,   Clinton  Co July    28 

(22) 


338  HISTORY   OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH  MICHIGAN. 

NATIVITY   AND  OCCUPATION   AND 

RANK    AND    NAME.  AGE  RESIDENCE.  ENLISTED. 

Jeremiah  Sullivan Ireland,  31 Laborer,  Detroit July  25 

Charles  Stoflet Wayne  Co.,  18 Farmer,  Brownstown Aug.  12 

Hermann  Schultz Germany  18 Farmer,  Wayne  Co 7 

William  Scerl Germany,   18 Cigarmaker  Detroit n 

Wm.  H   Southworth New  York,  25. . .  i  .Farmer,    Ash 12 

Orville  C.  Simonson New  York,  28 Farmer,    Burns 12 

John  Shoane  Hamtramck,  22.  ..  .Farmer,  Hamtramack 9 

John  H.  Terry   New  Yerk,  20 Farmer,   Sumpter 12 

David  Valrance,  jr Monroe,  18 Farmer,  Brownstown 12 

Wm.  H.  Vannoller New  York,  25 Farmer,  Burns 12 

Albert  Wasso. ...    Germany,   18 Butcher,  Detroit July  25 

Albert  Wilford England,  35 Mason,    Huron Aug.  12 

William  Weiner New  York  City,  18. Sailor,  Detroit 7 

John  W.  Welsh New  York,  21 Sailor,  Detroit 2 

George  E.  Walker Oakland,  19 Farmer,  Bloomfield 4 

Charles  A.  Wilson Detroit,   17 Sailor,  Detroit July  31 

George  W.  Wilson Detroit,  25 Sailmaker,   Detroit Aug.  n 


COMPANY  H. 

•Officers:  1862. 

Capt.  WARREN  G.  VINTON New  York,  32 Builder,    Detroit July   26 

ist  Lt.  JOHN  C.  MERRITT Unknown,  24 Mechanic,  Detroit 26 

2d  Lt.  NEWELL  GRACE New  York,  36 Lawyer,   Detroit 26 

Sergeants  : 

1.  William   R.  Dodsley England,  22 Clerk,    Detroit Aug.     5 

2.  Everard  B.  Welton Connecticut,  22. . .  .Exp.   Clerk,  Detroit 15 

3.  Richard  H.  Davy New  York,  26 Trimmer,  Detroit 13 

3.    Herbert  Adams Maine,  39 Lumberman,  Plymouth i 

5.  John  H.  Wiley New  Jersey,   30.  ..  .Carpenter,  Detroit July    24 

Corporals  : 

1.  Robert  Simpson Michigan,   24 Laborer,  Wayne  Co 31 

2.  William  Hunter New  York,   27 Wagonmaker,   Detroit 25 

3.  William  H.   Hoffman Jackson,  22 Mason,  Detroit 23 

4.  Charles  M.  Knapp Rhode  Island,  27.  .Clerk,  Detroit Aug.  II 

5-  Warren  A.    Norton New  Jersey.  22. ..  .Book-keeper,  Detroit n 

6.  Charles  E.  Crarey New  York,  23 Unknown,  Detroit 13 

7.  Wm.   Featherstone England,  22 Unknown,   Detroit July  28 

8.  Augustus  Hussey Massachusetts,  19.  .Clerk,    Detroit ....Aug.     8 

Fifer — 
Frederick  A.  Schaube Germany,   44 Musician,  Detroit July   26 

Drummer — 
David  Ferguson New  York,  38 Farmer,   Nankin Aug.  12 

Wagoner — 
George  G.  Cady Michigan,  27 Farmer,  Oakland 7 


ORIGINAL    MEMBERS.  339 

NATIVITY    AND  OCCUPATION    AND 

RANK    AND    NAME.  ^  RESIDENCE. 

Privates : 

Peter  Alterman Germany,  32 Tailor,  Detroit July    25 

Anthony  Brabau Michigan,   33 Farmer,  Wayne  Co Aug.     7 

John  Benedict New  York,  21 Farmer,   Oakland 9 

Charles  Bills Romulus,    19 Farmer,  Romulus 13 

Marshall  Bills Romulus,    19 Farmer,  Romulus 13 

Dewitt  C.  Butterfield Michigan,   27 Farmer,  Dewitt 9 

Robert  E.  Bolger Ireland,  20 Laborer,  Detroit 13 

Barney  J.  Campbell New  York,  42 Saddler,  Dewitt July    26 

David  Congdon Michigan,  21 Clerk,  Dewitt Aug.     8 

Edwin  Cotton New  York,  39 Saddler,  Ypsilanti 13 

James  F.  Clegg Canada,  18 Butcher,  Detroit July    29 

Michael  Cunningham Michigan,  19   Laborer,  Detroit 29 

Myron  Demary Michigan,   18 Farmer,  Dewitt Aug.  13 

Michael  Donovan Ireland,  24 Laborer,   Dewitt July    25 

James  Donovan .Ireland,  34 Laborer,  Dewitt 26 

Martin  K.  Donnelly Michigan,  22 Boilermaker,  Dewitt Aug.     2 

Gilbert  Dubuc Canada,  24 Farmer,  Greenfield 1 1 

Philip  T.  Dunroe Michigan,  28 Carpenter,    Greenfield 1 1 

Edward   Eberts Germany,   28 Bricklayer,  Detroit 4 

Jacob  Eisele Germany,  40 Carpenter,  Detroit July    31 

Edward  L.  Farrell Ireland,  26 Farmer,  Livonia Aug.     9 

Thomas  Fitzgibbons Ireland,  23 ,.    Boilermaker,  Detroit July    30 

Evi  French New  York,  24 Farmer,  Ypsilanti Aug.     9 

William  Ford   M  ichigan,  21 Carpenter,   Greenfield 1 1 

August  Gillsbach Germany  21 Farmer,  Wayne  Co   14 

Theodore  Grover Germany  19 Shoemaker,  Detroit July  29 

Edward  B .  Harrison New  Jersey,  20 Brewer,    Detroit Aug.  1 1 

Charles  W.  Harrison New  Jersey,  22.  ..  .Clerk,   Detroit July    25 

Israel  Harris Kentucky,  28 Cigarmaker,   Detroit Aug.  1 3 

Robt.  R.  Hermann Prussia,  45 Physician,   Detroit 2 

Morris  L.  Hoople Michigan,   18 Farmer,   Dewitt 9 

Leander  R.  Hoople Ohio,   19 Farmer,   Dewitt 9 

William  H.  Hewlett Michigan,  21 Farmer,  Wayne  Co July    31 

Abraham  Hoffman Germany,  25 Cooper,  Detroit 29 

William  Ingersoll Oakland,  23 Farmer,   Oakland   Aug.     9 

Anthony  Jacobs Germany,   27 Cooper,  Detroit July    28 

John  R.  King Canada,  21 Clerk,   Detroit Aug.  n 

John  Langdon England,  33 Farmer,  Hamtramck 1 1 

Marquis  L.  Lapaugh New  York,   24 Farmer,    Oakland 8 

Van  R.  W.  Lemm. Michigan,   19 Farmer,  Dewitt 9 

John  Larkins Ohio,    26 Sailor,  Detroit July    25 

Charles  E.  Letts Michigan,  25 Farmer,  Chelsea Aug.  13 

John  Malcho Germany,    19 Coffinmaker,  Detroit July    25 

Dennis  Mahoney. .....    Ireland,  23 Laborer,  Detroit 29 

Robert   Morris New  York,   19   ....  Unknown,    Detroit Aug.     2 

William  Morgan New  York,  20 Farmer,  Dewitt 9 

Alex.  H.  Morrison Michigan,  21 Clerk,  St.   Johns July    25 


340  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

NATIVITY    AND  OCCUPATION    AND 

RANK    AND    NAME.  ^  RESIDENCE. 

Nathaniel  J.  Moon Michigan,   18 Farmer,  Dewitt Aug.    9 

Mathew  Myers New  Jersey,  23 ....  Farmer,  Livonia 9 

John  Nollette Canada,  24 Farmer,  Livonia 13 

Ira  F.  Pearsoll New  York,  26 Farmer,   Dewitt 13 

Benjamin  Pelong New  York,   23 Farmer,   Plymouth 2 

John  Peterson Michigan,   21 Laborer,   Detroit July    29 

John  Powell New  York,  26 Clerk,    Detroit Aug.     9 

Edwin  J.  Ranger Livonia,  23 Farmer,  Livonia 13 

Jas.  F.  Raymond  (N.  C.  S.) New  York,  36 Photographer,  Detroit 13 

William  F.  Reed New  York,  20 Photographer,  Olive 13 

Richard  A.  Riley Michigan,  22 Farmer,    Greenfield 13 

George  M.  Riley Michigan,  24 Carpenter,   Greenfield i  r 

Joseph  Ruby Michigan,  22 Farmer,  Wayne  Co n 

Nicholas  Ruby Germany,  20 Laborer,    Detroit July    24 

A.  Wilder  Robinson England,  18 Laborer,  Detroit 23 

Joseph  Schunck Michigan,   22 Book-keeper,   Dewitt Aug.     9 

P    G.   Scanlon Prussia,  45 Farmer,  Wayne  Co 8 

Orlando  Scoville Ireland,  25   Peddler.   Detroit 13 

George   W.  Severance Michigan,  45 Baggageman,    Detroit July    30 

Andrew  J.  Stevens Vermont,  29 Carpenter,  Dewitt Aug.     9 

Samuel  Steele New  York,  43 Farmer,  Dewitt 13 

Daniel  Steele New  York,  19 Carpenter,  Dewitt 9 

John  Steele New  York,  18 Farmer,  Dewitt 9 

Charles  M.  Stickles New  Jersey,  20. . .  .Farmer,  Dewitt 9 

Arnold  Stowell Pennsylvania,    32.. Farmer,  Livonia 9 

Robert  D.   Simpson New  York,  20 Farmer,  Wayne  Co 13 

Albert  Sons Michigan,  26 Carpenter,   Chelsea 13 

George  Teufel New  York,  19 Carpenter,    Detroit 4 

Charles  W.  Thomas Germany,   31. Painter,   Dewitt 9 

Frederick  Uebelhoer New  York,  18 Carpenter,  Detroit July    24 

Jacob  Whyse Germany,  34 ......  Laborer,  Nankin 25 

Edward  Wilson Germany,  26 Laborer,  Detroit Aug.  n 

Elmer  D.  Wallace  (N.  C.  S.) England,  18 Clerk,    Detroit July    25 

Ferdinard  E.  Welton Connecticut.  18.  ..  .Exp.  Clerk,    Detroit Aug.  18 

William  C.  Young Detroit,  15 Student,    Detroit July    25 


COMPANY    I. 

Officers:  1862. 

Capt.  GEO.  C.  GORDON Canada,  29 Lawyer,  Redford July  26 

ist  Lt.  HENRY  P.  KINNEY Unknown,  27 Unknown,  Detroit 26 

2d  Lt.  JOHN  M.  GORDON New  York,  31 Shoe  trade,  Detroit 26 

Sergeants: 

1.  Wm.  T.  Wheeler   Maryland,  26 Com.  Merch.,  Detroit 26 

2.  Abraham  Earnshaw Massachusetts,  46.. Carpenter,  Detroit 26 

3.  Albert  E.  Bigelow Redford,  22   Book-keeper,   Detroit 26 

4.  Wm.  D.    Murray Canada,  22 Clerk,  Detroit Aug.    5 

5.  Geo.  H.  Canfield Redford,  19 Farmer,   Redford 2 


RANK    AMD    NAME. 


ORIGINAL   MEMBERS. 

NATIVITY    AND  OCCUPATION     AND 


^  RESIDENCE. 

Corporals: 

1.  William  H.  Cross  ...........  Redford  ..........  Farmer,  Redford  ..........  Aug.    5 

2.  Silas  H.  Wood  ..............  Canada,  44..  .  .....  Carpenter,  Detroit  .........  5 

3.  Pratt  B.  Haskall   ...........  New  York,  37  .....  Lumberman,  Detroit  .......  8 

4.  Jos.  U.  B.  Hedger  ..........  Ohio,   20  ..........  Clerk,  Nankin  .............  8 

5.  George  W.  Ormsbee  ........  Oakland,  23  .......  Farmer,  Redford  .........  4 

6.  Louis  Gautherat  ............  Redford,  26  .......  Farmer,  Redford  ..........  7 

7.  Ferdinand  F.  Bates  .........  New  York  City,  18.  Clerk,  Detroit  ............  July  31 

8.  Henry  L.  Houk  .............  Redford,  21  .......  Farmer,  Redford   .........  26 

Musicians  — 
Francis  R.  Ward  .............    England,  29  .......  Farmer,  Greenfield  ........  Aug.  n 

Henry  C.  Stoddard  ......  ......  Greenfield,  21  .....  Tinsmith,    Detroit  .........  9 

Wagoner  — 
Alonzo  F.  Anscomb  ............  Redford,  23  .......  Farmer,  Redford  ..........  9 

Privates: 

Abner  D.  Austin  ...............  Canada,  19  ........  Laborer,  Redford  ..........  2 

Ralph  Archibald  ...............  England,  21  .......  Machinist,  Detroit  .........  July  28 

Hiram   Bentley  ................  Genesee,  18  ......  Clerk,  Flint  ...............  Aug.  5 

John  Bryant  ...................  England,  18  .......  Farmer,  Redford  ..........  2 

Seymour  L.  Burns  .............  New  York,  28  .....  Farmer,  Redford  ..........  2 

George   W.  Bentley  ............  Bloomfield,  24  .....  Farmer,  Redford   .........  4 

John  P.  Barrett  ................  England,  42  .......  Farmer,  Redford  ..........  n 

Jonathan  Briggs  ..............  England,  33  .......  Cooper,  Detroit  ...........  II 

Frederick   Bosardis  ............  France,   18  ........  Farmer,  Redford  ..........  5 

Peter  Brink  ..................  New  York,  36  .....  Sawyer,  Livonia  ...........  5 

Wm.  Charlesworth  ...........  Redford,  21  ......  Farmer,  Redford  .........  2 

Jacob  H.  Canfield  .............  New  York,  33   ...  .Carpenter,  Redford  ........  4 

William  W.  Coon  ..............  Redford,  26.  ....  .Laborer,  Redford  .........  July  23 

Samuel  F.  Cromer  .............  Redford,   23  .......  Laborer,  Redford  .........  Aug.  7 

George  L.  Carey  ...............  England,  28  .......  Farmer,  Wayne  Co  ........  9 

Patrick  Clarey  .................  Ireland,  16  ........  Teamster,  Detroit  .........  5 

Henry  H.  Crarey  ..............  Vermont,  36  .......  Farmer,  Redford  ..........  n 

Henry  Coonrad  ................  Germany,  40  ......  Farmer,  Redford  .........  II 

Luther  D.  Carr  ................  Vermont,  29  .......  Farmer,  Redford  ..........  n 

John  Clark  ....................  England,  40  .......  Farmer,  Redford  ..........  July  3° 

Ephraim  D.  Cooper  ............  New  York,  39  .....  Farmer,  Romulus  .........  Aug.  u 

Oscar  Delong  ..................  Wayne  Co.,  17.  .  .  .Laborer,  Detroit  ...........  4 

John  J.  Dickey  ...............  Maine,  35  .........  Ostler,  Detroit  ...........  7 

Charles   Devantoy  .............  France,  35  ........  Farmer,  Wayne  Co  ........  13 

John  Dubois  ..................  Redford,  27  ........  Farmer,  Redford  .........  n 

Wallace  P.  Dicks  ..............  Wayne  Co,  18  .....  Farmer,  Redford  ..........  n 

Alexander  J.  Eddy  .............  New  York,  19  .....  Farmer,  Redford  ..........  6 

Jay  Ferguson  ..................  New  York,  26  .....  Farmer,  Redford  ..........  July  29 

William  A.  Flynn  ..............  New  York,  35  .....  Sailor,   Detroit  ............  Aug.  9 

Richard  M.  Fish  ...............  Lapeer,  20  ........  Farmer,  Redford  ..........  9 

George  B.  F.  Green  ............  Redford,  21  ........  Farmer,  Redford  ..........  July  28 

Oliver  Gagnier  ................  Detroit,  21  ........  Farmer,  Redford  ..........  Aug.  8 

Albertus  A.  Hutchinson  .......   Redford,  17  ........  Farmer,  Redford  ..........  July  29 


342  HISTORY  OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

NATIVITY    AND  OCCUPATION    AND 

RANK    AND    NAME.  ^  RESIDENCE.  ENLISTED. 

Nelson  Harris Redford,  22 Farmer,  Redford Aug.    2 

Francis  C.  Hodgman New  York,  22 Farmer,  Redford 6 

Charles  H.  Houk Plymouth,  21 Farmer,  Plymouth 5 

Mark  Hearn Wayne  Co.,  18. . . .  Farmer,  Redford 8 

Louis  Hattie New  York,  18 Jeweler,  Detroit 8 

Francis  Hynds Ireland,  18        Mason,  Detroit 2 

John   B.  Harris New  York,  23 Farmer,  Redford n 

Cross   Harris Wayne,  22 Farmer,  Nankin 13 

Lewis  Hawkins Redford,  27 Farmer,  Redford 7 

William  Irving England,  18 Trimmer,  Detroit 9 

Isaac  Innes Wayne  Co.,  18 Broommaker,  Nankin 13 

James  S.  Innes New  Jersey,  26. ..  .Broommaker,  Nankin 13 

Alpheus  Johnson Wisconsin,  21 Farmer,  Redford ]u\y  31 

Peter  Jackson Nankin,  20 Farmer,  Nankin Aug.  n 

Charles  A.  Kinney New  York,  25 Farmer,  Redford 2 

Isaac  J.  Kibbee Jackson,  21 Carpenter,  Redford i 

August  Lahser Prussia,  16 Wheelwright,  Redford 6 

Adolphus  Londrush Detroit,   39 Farmer,  Redford 6 

James  B.  Myers New  York,  25 Cab-maker,  Redford 2 

James  Magooghan Ireland,  41 Gardener,  Detroit 2 

John   Maitrie Switzerland,  23. ...  Farmer,  Redford 6 

Emile  Mettetal Redford,  19 Farmer,  Redford 12 

James  Mooney England,  18 Peddler,  Detroit 5 

Eugene  F.  Nardin New  York  City,  24. Carpenter,  Detroit 5 

Alexander  O'Rourke New  York,  18 Farmer,  Flint n 

Byron  Pierce Wayne  Co. ,  20 Laborer,  Redford 1 1 

Charles  Robinson Detroit,  17 Butcher,  Detroit July  31 

Wm.  J.  Riffenbury Oakland,  27 Laborer,  Detroit .Aug.    9 

Gilbert  Rhoades Wayne  Co.,  26. ..  .Farmer,  Dearborn 7 

Palmer  Rhoades Wayne  Co.,  19.  . .  .Farmer,  Dearborn 7 

Charles  F.  Sweet New  York,  22 Farmer,  Wayne  Co 2 

Orville  W.  Stringer Livonia,  18 Farmer,  Livonia    4 

John  L.  Stringham     New  York,  29 Carpenter,  Detroit 7 

David  S.  Sears    New  York,  25 Farmer,  Redford 8 

Adolphus  Shephard Detroit,  25 Carpenter,  Detroit 8 

Henry  Schindehett Germany,  22 Sailor,  Detroit II 

Wm.  E.  Thornton New  York,  31 Com.  Merch.,  Detroit 7 

Theodore  B.  Thomas Pennsylvania,  48.  .Laborer,  Detroit 8 

Wesley  A.  Tinkham Ohio,   19 Farmer,   Romulus n 

John  H.  Townsend New  York,  35 Farmer,  Romulus u 

David  M.  Tillman Genesee,  20  Farmer,  Wayne  Co 12 

Cornelius  Veley Wayne  Co.,  26  ...  .Farmer,  Livonia 5 

Jeremiah  Vining New  York,  41 Wheelwright,  Huron n 

Roswell  Van  Kuren New  York,  46 Farmer,  Redford n 

Wm.  Vandervoort Monroe,  24 Farmer,  Wayne  Co u 

Henry  Viele Germany,  40 Brickmaker,  Springwells. .  8 

James  Whalen Pr.  Edward  I'd,  39. Farmer,  Redford July  29 

Hiram  A.  Williams New  York,  31 Farmer,  Redford 28 

Henry  Wooden New  York,  36 Cooper,  Detroit Aug.  n 


ORIGINAL   MEMBERS.  343 


COMPANY   K. 

NATIVITY    AND  OCCUPATION  AND 

RANK  AND  NAME.  ^  RESIDENCE.  ENLISTED. 

Officers:  1862. 

Capt.  WM.  W.  WIGHT New  York,  45 Farmer,  Livonia July  26 

ist  Lt.  WALTER  H.  WALLACE Flat  Rock,  23 Student,  Flat  Rock 26 

2d   Lt.  DAVID  BIRRELL Tecumseh,  23  ...  .Druggist,  Detroit 26 

Sergeants  : 

1.  Robert  A.  Bain Scotland,  19 Salesman,  Detroit Aug.    4 

2.  R.  H.  Humphreyville New  York,  29 Carpenter,   Livonia 12 

3.  B.  Ross  Finlayson New  York,  iq Druggist,  Detroit 7 

4.  George  W.   Fox New  York,  25 Farmer,  Livonia July  28 

5.  Wallace  W.   Wight Livonia,    18 Farmer,  Livonia 28 

Corporals : 

1.  Ira  W.  Fletcher Taylor,  18 Clerk,  Flat  Rock 31 

2.  Samuel  F.  Smith Brownstown,  26. . .  Farmer,  Brownstown Aug.    6 

3.  Jerome  F.  Lefevre Canada,    24 Clerk,  Detroit July  28 

4.  James  T.  Rupert New  York,  30 Unknown,  Brownstown. . .  .Aug.    6 

5.  Isaac  M.  Jennie Ohio,  26 Carpenter,  Dearborn 8 

6.  Samuel  Johnson Pennsylvania,  28.  .Farmer,  Livonia July  28 

7.  Francis  T.  Dushain Detroit,  35 Farmer,  Livonia 28 

8.  Thomas  Saunders England,  28 Farmer,  Brownstown Aug.  n 

Musicians — 

Eli  A.   Blanchard Livonia,  18 Farmer,  Livonia 5 

Webster  A.  Wood Livonia,  20 Farmer,  Livonia 5 

Wagoner — 

Hiram   Ruff Dearborn,  30 Farmer,  Nankin 12 

Privates  : 

Richard  D.  Ainsworth New  York,  35 Painter,  Nankin 8 

Thomas  Butler New  York,  19 Farmer,  Huron n 

John  R.  Bruce New  York,  29 Farmer,  Nankin 2 

Franklin  A.  Blanchard Livonia,  20 Farmer,  Livonia 12 

Andrew  Bruthaumpt Germany,  43 Cabt.  maker,   Detroit 5 

John  R.  Brown New  York,  19.    ..  .Farmer,  Brownstown 9 

Orville  Barnes    Ohio,  37 Farmer,  Livonia 7 

Martin  Cole Canada,  37    Lumberman,  Detroit 9 

Wm.  J.  Chase Canada,  32 Farmer,  Brownstown 2 

Peter  Case New  Jersey,  18   . .  .Farmer,  Brownstown 9 

William  H.  Cole Canada,  21 Sawyer,  Detroit 13 

Michael  Daly Detroit,  20 Teamster,  Dearborn 12 

David  F.  Delaney Romulus,   18 Farmer,  Nankin 8 

George  H.  Dewey New  York,  18 Farmer,  Wayne  Co 7 

Wm.  H.  H.  Dana New  York,  21 Sailor,  Detroit 8 

James  R.  Ewing Livonia,  18 Farmer,  Livonia n 

August  Ernest Prussia,  18 Farmer,  Brownstown July  31 

John  H.  Fryer New  York,  18 Farmer,  Nankin Aug.    8 


344  HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN 

RANK  AND  NAME.  NATIVITY    AND  OCCUPATION  AND 

AGE.  RESIDENCE. 

Joseph  Ferstell Germany,  33 Brickmaker,   Romulus    July  28 

Fernando  D.  Forbes New  York,  24 Farmer,  Brownstown 31 

Eugene  C.  Gessley New  York,  19 Farmer,  Brownstown Aug.    4 

Abner  A.  Galpin Dearborn,   18 Farmer,  Brownstown 2 

Conrad  Gundlack   Germany,  45 Laborer,  Detroit 2 

Isaac  I.  Green Redford,  23 Farmer,  Livonia July  28 

Albert  Ganong Nankin,  18 Farmer,  Nankin Aug.    8 

Patrick  Gaffney Greenfield,  18 Farmer,  Livonia 1 1 

Charles  Gaffney Greenfield,  19 Farmer,  Livonia 2 

Henry  Hoisington New  York,  36 Farmer,  Livonia 1 1 

Lewis  Harland Pennsylvania,  24.  .Farmer,  Livonia 11 

Charles  D.  Hoagland New  York,  20 Farmer,   Brownstown 6 

Charles  S.  Hosmer. Huron,  18 Farmer,  Huron 5 

Artemas  Hosmer Huron,  18 Farmer,  Huron 5 

Wm.  M.  Johnson Pennsylvania,  39.  .Farmer,  Livonia July  28 

Henry  W.  Jameson Green  Oak,  20 Farmer,  Brownstown 31 

Jonathan  Jameson Green  Oak,  18 Farmer,  Brownstown Aug.    2 

Frank  Kellogg Ohio,  18 Moulder,   Detroit i 

David  J.  Kellar New  York,  18 Farmer,  Nankin 6 

George  Kipp Huron,  24 Farmer,  Huron 6 

Marvin  E.  Lapham Livonia,    19 Farmer,  Livonia 12 

James  Leslie New  York,  36 Farmer,  Livonia 5 

Elijah  Little Canada,  40 Farmer,  Wyandotte    7 

Charles  W.  Loosee Monroe  Co.,  18. . .  .Farmer,  Brownstown 9 

Oaniel  W.  Loosee     Monroe  Co. ,  20. . . .  Farmer,   Brownstown 4 

William  Laura Dearborn,  19 Farmer,  Brownstown 2 

Barney  J.  Litogot   Wayne  Co.,  24.  ..  .Farmer,  Brownstown 14 

John  Litogot Wayne  Co.,  27.  ..  .Farmer,  Brownstown n 

William   D.  Lyon England,  31 Brewer,   Detroit July  28 

Evan  B.  McClure Pennsylvania,  23 . . Farmer,  Livonia 28 

Neil  McNeil Scotland,    51 Farmer,    Brownstown Aug.    2 

Chas.  E.  Maynard Redford,  19 Farmer,  Livonia n 

Charles  E.  Miller Eaton    Co.,    18. ..  .Teamster,  Dearborn 18 

Francis  Miller Brownstown,  18... Farmer,  Brownstown 2 

Simon  Miller Pennsylvania,  50.  .Farmer,  Brownstown    2 

Hiram  B.  Millard New  York,  37.    . .  .Farmer,  Livonia July  28 

Eugene  R.  Mills. New  York,  21 Teacher,    Detroit Aug.  12 

James  Nowlin New  York,  70  ...  .Farmer,   Romulus 7 

Andrew  J.  Nowland. Huron,   23 Farmer,  Huron 13 

George  W.  Olmstead Ypsilanti,  18 Farmer,  Brownstown 2 

Robert  Outhwaite Plymouth,   29 Blacksmith,  Huron 5 

Elijah  P.  Osborne New  York,  20 Farmer,  Nankin 7 

John  J.  Post New  Jersey.  27. ..  .Carpenter,  Brownstown  . .  .July  31 

Robert  R.  Peters New  York,  28 Farmer,  Brownstown Aug.    4 

William  Platt England,  39 Mason,  Brownstown 2 

John  A.   Pattee Huron,  18 Farmer,  Huron 5 

Francis  Pepin Detroit,  19 Carpenter,  Detroit 12 

Sherman  Rice Huron,  18 Farmer,  Huron 5 

Hugh  G.  Roberts Wales,  Eng.,  26.  .  .Farmer,  Livonia n 


ORIGINAL  MEMBERS. 


345 


RANK    AND    NAME. 


NATIVITY   AND 
AGE. 


OCCUPATION    AND 
RESIDENCE. 


ENLISTED. 


Abraham  Rathbone New  York,  33 Farmer,   Livonia Aug.  6 

Andrew  Smith England,  29 Farmer,  Brownstown 9 

Jerome  B.  Stockham   New  York,  34 Farmer,  Livonia 8 

Conrad  Springer Germany,  26 Clerk,  Detroit 8 

Lilburn  A.  Spalding N.  Hampshire,  19. Carpenter,  Livonia 5 

Charles  A.  Sutliff New  York,  22 Farmer,  Livonia 5 

VVilber  F.  Straight Nankin,  21 Farmer,  Nankin 2 

Isaac  L.  Vandecar New  York,  18 Farmer,  Huron 5 

James  Van  Houten Ash,  20 Farmer,  Livonia 6 

Jacob  M.  Van  Riper Ash,  22 Farmer,   Brownstown Juty  31 

Enoch  A.  Whipple New  York,  37 Carpenter,  Brownstown.  .  .  .Aug.  n 

Rufus  J.  Whipple New  York,  39 Farmer,  Brownstown 9 

Gurdon  L.  Wight Livonia,  19 Farmer,  Livonia 5 

David  A.  Wood New  York,  19 Farmer,  Livonia 5 

Wallace  A.  Wood New  York,  19 Farmer,  Livonia 5 


JERICHO   MILLS  ON   THE   NORTH   ANNA. 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

RECRUITS  OF 
THE  TWENTY-FOURTH  MICHIGAN. 

I. —  THOSE   WHO   SAW    SERVICE   AT   THE    FRONT. 

QUITE  a  number  of  recruits  came  to  the  Twenty-fourth 
Michigan  but  only  a  small  part  of  them  saw  service  at  the 
front.  The  war  history  of  the  regiment  was  made  by  the 
1026  original  members  and  216  recruits  who  joined  it  at  the 
front.  They  began  to  come  in  during  the  spring  of  1864,  while  the 
regiment  was  wintering  near  Culpepper  Court  House,  and  are  known 
as  "  Culpepper  Recruits,"  to  distinguish  them  from  those  who  joined 
the  regiment  at  Camp  Butler,  near  Springfield,  Illinois.  These  earlier 
recruits  joined  at  a  critical  period  of  the  war  and  are  entitled  to  share 
in  full  the  honors  of  the  regiment,  as  they  helped  fight  some  of  the 
severest  battles  in  which  it  was  engaged.  Some  of  them  were  placed 
in  the  ranks  even  during  an  engagement,  and  were  killed  or  wounded 
in  that  day's  battle.  These  recruits  served  well  and  shared  all  the 
later  dangers  which  confronted  the  original  members.  Some  had 
brothers  and  relatives  killed  already  in  this  regiment  and  had 
patriotically  gone  down  to  take  their  places.  Some  were  captured 
and  died  in  Confederate  prisons;  others  came  home  maimed  for  life. 
Below  is  a  list  of  such  recruits  who  are  entitled  to  share  the  full 
honors  of  the  regiment  and  Iron  Brigade  : 

NAME.  COMPANY.  AGE   AND    RESIDENCE.  ENLISTED. 

Joseph  Affholter A  18  Grosse  Point Jan.    5,    1864 

Richard  M.  Bays "  .- 32  Niles Aug.  16, 

Albert  Couture "  20  Grosse  Point 19, 

George  W.  Dingman "  26  Ash Feb.     9, 

Peter  Desnoyer "  38  Detroit 17, 

Francis  Griffin,  jr "  18  Detroit 22,     " 

Joseph  Grisemaire "  42  Riga Sept. 27, 

Thomas  D.  Harris "  23  Wayne  Co Aug.  23, 

John  W.  Hodgetts "  34  Bruce Apr.  26, 

(346) 


RECRUITS. 


347 


NAME.                             COMPANY.  AGE    AND    RESIDENCE.  ENLISTED. 

Stephen  Jackson A  20     West  Bloomfield Jan.  21,  1864 

Lewis   D.  Moores "  18     West  Bloomfield 21,  " 

James  Malley "  30     Ash 29,  " 

John  Parish "  19     West  Bloomfield 21,  " 

Peter  Roberts "  18     Wayne  Co Sept.  26,  " 

Ferdinand  Stark "  40     Greenfield Jan.     4,  " 

Julius  Schultz "  22     Wayne  Co Feb.     5,  " 

John  Townsend "  18     Nankin Aug.  19,  " 

Albert  Thalen "  39     Greenfield i,  " 

Andrew  J.  Vinton "  32 Oct.   26,  " 

Peter  Vermiller "  26     Wayne  Co Jan.     4,  " 

Peter  G.  Zoll "  44     Wayne  Co Sept.  26,  ' ' 

Henry  R.  Bird B  18     Washington,   D.  C Apr.  23,  1863 

John  P.  Bell "  18     Milton Aug.  25,  1864 

Charles  Bruskie "  20     Royalton 21,  " 

Darius  H.  Connor 29     Grosse   Point Feb.  25,  " 

Robert  H.  Collinson "  25     Ash Mar.  24,  " 

Lewis  Champaign "  22     Canton Feb.  29.  " 

Albert  S.  Cooper "  18     Wayne  Co 16,  " 

Edward  Flood "  21      Jan.    16,  " 

Samuel  Fury "  21     Ash Mar.  17,  " 

J.   Burkhardt  Freund "  31     Royalton Sept.    3,  " 

James  Grills "  35     Wayne  Co Jan.     4,  " 

Luther  Hemmingway "  29     Berrien  Co Sept.    i,  " 

William    Lawrence 18     Marlette Feb.     8,  " 

Henry  Loss "  24     Dundee Sept.   8,  " 

Joseph  E.  McConnell "  19     Detroit Apr.    I,  1863 

James  Morton "  40     Coldwater Mar.  31,  1864 

John  O'Connor "  22     Avon Feb.     2,  " 

Samuel  Smith "  24     Sept     9,  " 

William  Sullivan "  18     Royalton .....Aug.  21,  " 

Lorenzo  D.  Smith 18     Royalton Sept.    6,  " 

Jacob  Smith "  21     Kalamazoo Aug.  17,  " 

Frank   Tscham "  32     Springwells Feb.  27,  " 

Peter  Velie "  28     Erin Mar.  30,  " 

James  Bourdon C  22     Niles Aug.  30,  " 

Ara  Cook "  20     Niles July  2Q.  " 

Owen  Churchill "  24     Niles Aug.  24,  " 

Niel  Christiansen "  25     Ecorse Jan.   28,  " 

Patrick   English "  34     Bertrand Sept.  12,  " 

John  R.  Field "  39     Niles Aug.  31,  " 

Jerome  Head "  37     Niles 22,  " 

John  Hutchinson "  19     Niles    27,  " 

George  K.  Innes "  38     Nankin Jan.   19, 

Andrew  E.  Mitchell "  28     Niles Aug.  15,  " 

Reuben  W.  Page "  2 1     Armada Jan.   20, 

Charles  M.  Phillips '' 19     Oronoco Aug.  25,  " 

Charles  Rose "  24     Detroit 12,  " 

George  W.  Stebbins "  34     Tecumseh 5, 

Theodore  D.  Swain "  18     Bertrand 19,  " 


348 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN. 


NAME.  COMPANY. 

Henry  Smith C  18 

Oscar  St.  John "  24 

James  St.  Johns "  18 

James  L.  Stafford "  27 

Gideon  B.  Stiles "  22 

James  L.  Sharp 28 

Amos  A.  Thompson "  18 

George  M.  Velie "  27 

Barney  Anderson D  42 

William  Barrett "  20 

William  Biggsley "  22 

Samuel  Brown 23 

Agustus  F.  Brousky "  18 

Thomas  Baxter 18 

Allen  Brown 40 

Henry  Carpenter 21 

James  L.  Collard "  20 

Thomas  Downing.  .  .    "  33 

George  Dolan 18 

James  L.  Fairweather "  36 

Reuben  E.  Glass "  18 

John  Guest "  45 

John  L.  Gould "  18 

A.  Brutus  Heig "  18 

Richard  Hamilton "  18 

Harvey  D.  Hale "  37 

Christopher  Mayhew ''  27 

Frederick  Maths "  18 

Samuel  Reed "  34 

James  M.  Turing "  25 

Henry  Aldridge E  28 

Hugh  Brady "  20 

Henry  E.  Bradley "  20 

Patrick  Coffee "  28 

Joseph  Collins "  20 

George  Curtis "  37 


AGE   AND    RESIDENCE.  ENLISTED. 

Ash Nov.  15,  1864 

Buchanan Aug.  31, 

Buchanan 29, 

Niles 23,     " 

Niles Sept.    2,     " 

Niles Aug.  16,     " 

Niles 29,      " 

Plymouth Jan.     4, 

Detroit Oct.  12,     " 

Detroit 24,     " 

Dearborn Dec.  21,  1863 

Dearborn 27, 

Redford Sept.   5,  1864 

Greenfield 5, 

Springwells 20, 

Franklin Aug.  n,     " 

Romulus Feb.     2,     " 

Romulus 2, 

Port  Huron Dec.  29,  1863 

Ecorse Sept.   9,  1864 

Redford 5,      " 

Dearborn Dec.  14,     " 

Detroit Oct.    18,      " 

Detroit Dec.  29,  1863 

Detroit Oct.     7,  1864 

Romulus 18,     " 

Dearborn Jan.  16, 

Dearborn Dec.  14,  1863 

Dearborn Feb.  25,  1864 

Detroit Oct.     4,     " 

Buchanan ...  .Aug.  31, 

.  .  .  . : Dec.    12,  1863 

Niles Sept.  12.  1864 

Detroit Dec.  21,  1863 

Dearborn 

Ontwa Sept.    5,  1864 

Niles  .  . 


Dayton  Fuller '  "...  .39 

Lewis  Hartman "     18  Dec. 

Nicholas  Hanning -.  .  .  .  "     19  Wayne  Co 

William  H.  Kennell "     23  Dearborn 

Cornelius  Mahoney "     18  


1863 


Benjamin   Pettengill "     34     Niles Sept.    2,1864 

William  A.  Ringgold "     18     Dec.  26,  1863 


Thomas  Rourke 44 

John  L.  Ryan "  23 

George  Ruby "  18 

Ephraim  P.  Stratton "  35 

Morgan  Steinbeck 38 

John  Talbot "  23 


Raisin 15, 

Detroit Aug.   II.  1864 

Redford, Sept.  16,     " 

Berrien 2,     " 

Milton Aug.  16,     " 

Niles Sept.    3,     " 


RECRUITS. 


349 


NAME.  COMPANY.  AGE   AND    RESIDENCE.  ENLISTED. 

Henry  T.  Willard E  44  Dearborn Oct.     3,  1864 

Ephraim  M.  Yaw "  32  Niles Sept.   3,     " 

Silas  Ausunkerhin F  18  Erin Mar.  26,     " 

Paul  Boutts "  18  Canton Aug.  10,      " 

Andrew  J.  Bucklin "  22  Dearborn Dec.  27,  1863 

Henry  Baker "  18  Detroit Aug.  16,  1864 

John  B.  Beyette •••'....  "  39  Ecorse Feb.  26,     " 

John  B.  Cicotte "  35  Ecorse 26,     " 

Charles  B.  Cicotte "  27  Ecorse 26,     " 

Daniel  W.  Crane "  18  Plymouth Aug.  24,     " 

Allen   H.  Cady "  19  Plymouth 24.      " 

Albert  A.  Doty "  39  Grosse  Point Mar.    8,      " 

Abel  A.  Doty "  34  Detroit Oct.    17,     " 

Oliver  Dubey "  .......  .22  Detroit Dec.  28,  1863 

Chester  V.  Daniels "  18  Dundee Aug.  25,  1864 

John  S.  Ensign "  42  Wright Mar.    3,     " 

V,7m.  W.  Griffin "  19  Detroit Aug.  n,      " 

Joseph  Gaffele "  18  Detroit Dec.  13,      " 

Joseph  Greusel "  29  Franklin Aug.  10,      " 

Leander   Herrick "  18  Plymouth Aug.  13,     " 

Bird  H.  Hosmer "  24  Detroit Oct.     6,     " 

Joseph  Jamieson "  35  Erin Mar.  24,     " 

Herman  Krumback "  16  Detroit Dec.    n,  1863 

"William    Kenney "  25  Macon Aug.  12,  1864 

John  Largess "  19  Springwells Sept.  19,      " 

Adam  Oehring "  43  Ecorse Jan.  24,     " 

Henry  Oakes "  17  Detroit Aug.  13,      " 

Anthony  Reno "  36  Ecorse Feb.  26,     " 

Frank  M.  Rose "  21  Dearborn Dec.  14,  1863 

Thomas  Robinson "  41  Dearborn Apr.  25,  1864 

Bozile  Vallade "  19  Ecorse Feb.  26,     " 

Franklin  Van  Schoick "  18  Dundee Aug.  25,      " 

Joseph  Baker G  18  Plymouth 14,     " 

George  Beresford "  29  Detroit Oct.     5,     '  • 

Henry  Bedford "  20  Detroit Dec.  30,  1863 

Mathew  Cavanaugh "  39  Detroit Oct.     3,1864 

John  Casey "  40  Detroit 4,     " 

Isaac  Conling "  43  Fairfield Sept.    9,     " 

David  W.  Fox "  19  Detroit Oct.     6,      " 

Daniel  Hemming "  31  Detroit 8,     " 

John  Henderson "  23  Canton 3,     " 

James  Keenan "  33  Redford ..  .Sept.  14,     " 

Richard  Lennon "  ........42  Dearborn 3,     " 

Thomas  McMahon.    ..    "  38  Woodstock 17,     " 

Andrew  Musberger "  31  Canton Oct.     3,      " 

John  McPherson "  18  Detroit 7,      " 

August  McKeever "  20  Detroit 7,     " 

Henry  S.  Paris "  21  Columbus Mar.    9,     " 

Charles  Rhew "  27  Springwells Sept.  20,     " 

Thomas  M.  Smith "  38  Hamtramck 14,     " 


350 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


NAME.                            COMPANY.  AGE   AND    RESIDENCE.  ENLISTED. 

Clement  Saunier G  26     Detroit Dec.  30,  1863 

Albert  Taylor "  18     Detroit Oct.     6,1864 

Simon  G.  Taylor 32     Canton 3,  " 

Amos  Arnold H  20     Butler Feb.     8,  " 

Mathew  Anderson "  20     Royalton Sept. 24,  " 

Apollos   Austin "  35     Ypsilanti 12,  " 

Thomas  Burnett "  37     Jackson Feb.    4,  " 

Clark  W.  Butler "  18     Detroit.. Dec.  12,  1863 

Uriah  Caesar "  18     Dearborn 18,  " 

James  L.  Colligan "  21     Detroit Sept.  27,  1864 

Thomas  Drumming "  21     Detroit Jan.    13,  " 

Ransom  J.  Fargo "  20     20,  " 

Henry  McNames "  20     Freedom Feb.     4,  " 

George  Moore "  20     Wayne  Co Aug.    5,  " 

John  Relders "  44     Wayne  Co Dec.  18,  1863 

Edwin  Sharais "  17     Milton Sept.  12,  1864 

Harlovv  S.  Sherwood 42     Lasalle 3, 

James  White "  19     Lasalle 24,  " 

James  Anderson I  37     Whiteford Oct.  29,  " 

Anselm  Ball 33     Somerset Jan.     4, 

John  Donahoe "  25     Huron Feb.  29,  " 

Charles  Davey "  21     Fairfield Aug  29,  " 

Daniel  Donahue "  18     Dearborn Feb.  18,  " 

Stephen  Flynn "  18     Tecumseh Aug.   6,  " 

James  Johnson 41     Wayne  Co Jan.  28, 

William  T.  Keays "  18     Dearborn Oct.    12,  •' 

James  Miller "  36     Troy Sept.   2,  " 

John  C.  Morehouse "  19     Detroit Oct.     S,  " 

Levi  McDaniels "  42     Canton Sept.  23,  " 

Abner  D.  Porter "  18     Springwells Feb.  17,  " 

Joseph  Peyette,  jr   "  18     Ecorse Jan.   13,  " 

John  Shannon "  22     Wayne  Co Oct.     8,  " 

Richard  Taylor "  18     Rutland Aug.  20,  " 

George  P.  Vorce "  40     Madison 13,  " 

Henry  B.  Vorce <:  18     Madison 13,  " 

George  Wallace "  18     Wayne  Co Nov.    I,  " 

John  Chapman K  18     Saginaw Apr.  22,  " 

Franklin  Colbetzor "  27     Royalton Aug.  31,  " 

Alanson  Cain "  40     Commerce Sept.    2,  " 

William  L.  Conditt "  23     Niles Aug.  27,  " 

Henry   Dumont "  18     Dearborn Feb.     2,  " 

Mathew    Frankish ...  "  19     Niles Sept.    2,  " 

Chauncey   M.Griffith "  24     Ann  Arbor Aug.  30,  " 

James  Lynch "  27     Farmington Sept.    2,  " 

Edward  Merriman "  22     Nankin Aug.  30,  " 

Henry  L.  Morse "  31     Royalton 31,  " 

Anson  Miller "  23     Niles 24,  " 

Reuben  Merrill,  jr "  22     Van  Buren Oct.     3,  " 

Henry  Nowland "  23     Huron 8,  " 

Max  Pischa.  . .' "  43     Wayne  Co Feb.  23,  <: 


RECRUITS.  351 

NAME.  COMPANY.  AGE   AND    RESIDENCE.  ENLISTED. 

John  M.  Reese K    23     Milton Aug.  24,  1864 

Sylvester  Riggs "     22     Detroit Oct.     6,  " 

Henry  Smith "     22     Niles Aug.  16,  " 

Frederick  Smoots "     18     Detroit Mar.  31,  " 

Silas  Tomlinson "     22     Buchanan Sept.   2,  " 

Edward  M.  Vesey "     41     Ann  Arbor Aug.  30,  " 

John  Veitz .  "     37     Ann  Arbor 30, 

John  Wightman "     27     Nankin Jan.     2, 

Total  216,  including  4  re-enlistments  who  were  original  members  of  the  Regiment. 


2  —  SPRINGFIELD    RECRUITS. 

By  such  are  meant  those  who  joined  the  regiment  at  Camp  Butler, 
near  Springfield,  Illinois,  while  it  was  on  guard  duty  at  the  Draft 
Rendezvous  there,  and  undergoing  re-recruitment,  for  this  was  the 
second  recruitment  aside  from  its  original  formation.  These  men  all 
enlisted  during  the  months  of  January,  February  and  March  in  1865, 
and  joined  the  regiment  prior  to  March  29,  1865.  One  squad  of  them 
had  even  reached  City  Point,  Va.,  to  join  it,  after  it  had  started  for 
Springfield,  and  followed  it  to  the  latter  place.  A  few  of  these 
recruits  had  seen  service  in  other  regiments  and  were  attracted  to  the 
service  again.  Many  had  relatives  and  friends  in  the  Twenty-fourth 
and  were  thus  attached  to  it,  as  well  as  by  the  good  name  which  it  had 
'acquired.  Some  probably  read  the  signs  of  the  times  and  believing 
the  war  to  be  near  its  close,  hoped  to  escape  field  duty  by  joining  this 
regiment  where  it  then  was.  The  war  had  closed  by  the  surrender  of 
Lee,  just  ten  days  after  the  regiment  was  recruited  to  its  maximum. 
Had  the  war  continued,  the  regiment  would  undoubtedly  have 
returned  to  the  field  of  operations  with  full  ranks,  and  these  recruits 
would  doubtless  have  sustained  its  reputation  had  opportunity  been 
presented.  The  history  of  the  Twenty-fourth  would  be  incomplete 
without  their  names.  They  were  welcomed  to  its  ranks  at  the  time, 
and  were  sought  for  by  our  recruiting  officers.  They  were  all  mustered 
out  with  the  regiment  except  twenty-six  who  died  of  disease  at  Camp 
Butler  and  twenty  who  deserted,  the  latter  being  marked  with  a 
star(*). 

George  A.  Coykendall,  William  F.  Henry, 

rOMPANV    A 

Robert  Cowan,*  Andrew  J.  Holmes, 

Henry  H.  Bowen,  Solon  M.  Dewey,  Daniel  C.  Holmes, 

Alexander  Beal,  Alfred  J.  Deming,  George  W.  Hanna, 

John  W.  Black,  Ansel  Farr,  Emmet  D.  Harman, 

Jacob  Blankertz,  Henry  Goldsmith,  Henry  H.  Hunt, 

T.  G.  Bartholomew,  Hugh  Gamble,  Selah  F.  House, 


352 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


John  G.  Kettler, 
William   Kent, 
Charles  H.  Kipp, 
William  Loughburn, 
Joel  O.  Lyon, 
Alex.  P.   McManoney, 
James  C.  Moore, 
Josiah  M.  Milburn, 
Thomas  A.  Moore, 
Lester  McKnight, 
Andrew  Miller, 
George  F.  Niles, 
Henry  Patno, 
William  Powers, 
Winfield  S.  Preston, 
Watson   P.  Reed, 
Nathan  Rhinehart, 
Hugo  Rhodick,* 
Warren  S.  Stearns, 
William  A.  Story, 
Milton  S.  Story, 
Joshua  L.  Sutton, 
Jacob  Saltsman, 
Hubert  C.  Southworth, 
Greenville  M.   Smith, 
George  W.  Sullivan, 
Llewellyn  Smith, 
John  W.   Sutton, 
Stephen  S.  Stout, 
James  O.  Smith, 
Seldon  D.  Sperry, 
Zadock  P.  Thornton, 
Augustus  O.  Taylor, 
George  Ventile, 
Henry  P.  Vannetta, 
Rollin  G.  Wood, 
Charles  H.  Wliliams, 
William  H.  Weaver, 
William  White, 
Calvin  Ward. 

COMPANY  B. 

August  Arlin, 
Calvin  W.  Aiken, 
John  H.  Alley, 
Darius  J.  Benjamin, 
Horace  M.  Bockway, 
James  Cheeseman, 
E.  Cross,* 
Edward  Dompier, 


Charles  Dobson, 
Win.  H.  Emmons, 
Joseph  French, 
Gotlieb  Gebhardt, 
Carlton  Greenleaf, 
William   Hamilton, 
Christian  Hopp, 
James  Hogan, 
Anthony  Hawkins, 
Darius  K.  Irwin, 
Lyman  Knapp, 
Andrew  F.  Kipper, 
Patrick  Kealy, 
William  J.  Keagle, 
Peter  Lacroix, 
Henry  A.  Leming, 
Peter  Lapier, 
Jacob  Lightner, 
Samuel  P.  Lockwood, 
Arthur  E   Martin, 
James  McCabe, 
Henry  Miller, 
Clifford  Montgomery, 
Christian  Metzer, 
Henry  McWithey, 
Augustus  Note, 
John  Newman, 
Francis  O'Niel, 
Abram  J.  Pierce, 
Edward  Pope, 
Jerome  Pierce, 
Joseph  Parker, 
William  H.  Parker, 
Henry  Pope, 
William  C.  Pope, 
James  E.  Parker, 
David  L.  Reynolds, 
Andrew  Smith, 
Levi  Shumway, 
George  K.  Smith, 
John  F.  Tuthill, 
Lyman  Thornton, 
Joseph  Wagner, 
Albert  Watson, 
John  Whitehouse, 
Owen   Walters, 
Daniel  Walters, 
David  Walters, 
Charles  Welch, 
Frank  Willis, 
George  S.  Warren. 


COMPANY  C. 

Charles  Avery, 
Henry  E.  Alton, 
Henry  Ashdown, 
Franklin  Billings, 
M.  Burke,* 
Samuel  T.  Babbitt,* 
Job  W.  Boyce, 
James  Brain, 
Harrison  Bump, 
Frank  Baker, 
Henry  H.  Calkins, 
Robert  H.  Collins, 
Elmer  E.  Cooper, 
Thomas  Checken, 
Henry  Delessee, 
George  G.  Everett, 
Francis  M.  French, 
George  Fox, 
Joel  S.  Fessenden, 
Thomas  Genderson, 
Michael  Greening 
John  Greening, 
George  Glover, 
Edward  Haven, 
George  Horn, 
Thomas  Hastings, 
Myron  Holden, 
Hiram  Hilton, 
John  J.  Hart, 
Davis  L.  Hurlburt, 
John  Haines, 
Anselm  H.  Jessup, 
Henry  W.  Jones, 
Joseph  C.  Kyle, 
Alonzo  R.  Kyle, 
Erastus  Kidder, 
Richard  Kern, 
Peter  G.  Kelley, 
Peter  S.  Green, 
Nelson  Lemon, 
William  Lawrence,* 
Marcus  Morton, 
Walter  S.  Mizner, 
Benjamin  F.  McNitt, 
James  M.  Noell, 
Henry  P.  Odell, 
James  O'Brien, 
John  Reynolds, 
Thomas  Stapleton, 


RECRUITS. 


553 


Thomas  Shannahan, 
Frank  Varbaum, 
George  White, 
Eli  Whiley. 

COMPANY  D. 

James  Adams, 
Malcolm  Angel, 
William  Burlingame, 
Henry  Brown, 
Nelson  Barcume, 
Chas.  A.  Champion, 
Philip  Cornell, 
John  Cameron, 
William  Cummings, 
Orrin  Dodge, 
John  Downing, 
John  A.  Devoe, 
James  C.  Dancer, 
Thomas  Feagan,* 
Peter  H.  Fryer, 
Lewis  Fisher, 
August  Farland, 
Edward  A.  Herrick, 
Charles  Jones, 
Eli  Jacobs, 
John  F.  Jackson, 
George  Kuyle, 
David  J.  Kendall, 
Joseph  Labadeaux, 
Joseph  Ladue, 
William  Millard, 
Michael  S.  McNamara, 
William  McLane, 
Basil  Martin, 
Isaac  Mennor, 
Robert  Martin, 
Thomas  McMann, 
Samuel  Perry, 
Isaiah  Pegram, 
Stewart  W.  Perry, 
Charles  N.  Smith, 
Martin  Stewart, 
Philip  Sage, 
Henry  Varsop, 
Edward  Webster, 
John  Weid, 
William  White, 
Daniel  B.  Wisener, 
Wm.  R.  Whitman. 
(24) 


COMPANY  E. 

O.  M.  Armstrong, 
Pliny  T.  Averill, 
Joseph  Booth, 
Hosea  Birdsall, 
Bradford  Blanchard, 
Clark  Bailey, 
Newton  Belden, 
Oscar  Blakesley, 
John  H.  Beleon, 
Ezra  Brainard, 
Israel  Buzzard, 
Manly  M.  Boyington, 
Levi  Bankman, 
Andrew  J.  Buck, 
James  Baker,  jr., 
Charles  Barney, 
Owen  Carrack, 
Edward  Crow, 
Jonathan  W.  Crawford, 
Milo  Crawford, 
Chauncey  T.  Carpenter, 
Clarence  D.  Case, 
James  Caffrey, 
William  Carter, 
William  Campion, 
Augustus  S.  Denton, 
William  Deal, 
Harrison  M.  Dickey, 
John  M.  Davis, 
Charles  E.  Durfee, 
Fred'k  H.  Esenhart, 
George  Frear, 
Jerome  B.  Frasier, 
James  W.  Goodfellovv, 
James  S.  Gouder, 
William  H.  Giles, 
Rudolph  E.  Hammond, 
Daniel  Harrington, 
John  H.  Hawkins, 
Hiram  Kenyon, 
Melvin  G.  Lincoln, 
Charles  Leigh, 
Lyman  W.  Liscomb, 
Charles  McKenstry, 
Frederick  C.  .Moore, 
John  M.  Marlow, 
Lewis  Metcalf, 
William.  H.  Parker, 
Augustus  N.  Parker, 


Nathan  Penrod, 
Patrick  Quickley, 
Owen  Riley, 
C.  Sidman,* 
Charles  B.  Salsbury, 
John  Sixby, 
Townsend  Trombley, 
George  Vandine, 
W.  C.  Wilmarth, 
George  E.  Walcott, 
William  Welch, 
James  E.  Whalon, 
Duane  Witherell, 
Julius  M.  Ward, 
Henry  O.  Wheaton, 
Hollis  A.  Ward, 
Erskine  Wood. 

COMPANY  F. 

William  Ayling, 
Chas.  E.  Armstrong, 
Nelson  Burch, 
Adam  Burwell, 
James  C.  Bruce, 
George  Brookleback, 
William  H.  Bailey. 
James  Canary* 
Gideon   Chilson, 
Angus   Campbell, 
Jeremiah  Crawley, 
John  G.  Collins, 
William  L.  Congell, 
William  B.  Cox, 
Orson  J.  Davis, 
Charles  Davis, 
George  R.  Doxey, 
Henry  De  Rosslyn, 
Rodney  Enos,* 
Almeron  Fuller, 
John  French, 
John  Forest, 
Charles  M.  Failing, 
John  A.  Fisher, 
Joseph  Gravel,* 
Charles  Gildea, 
Games  Jaffley, 
Ezekiel  P.  Gee, 
Charles  W.  Goodrich, 
Alonzo  W.  Hozner, 
Joshua  Herrington, 


354 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


Amos  Jarey, 
Benj.   F.  Lamoyne, 
Henry  Miller,* 
Robert  Milburn, 
Joseph  Mallette, 
David  Mitchell, 
Peter  Munanson, 
Charles  A.  Moore, 
Andrew  Moore, 
Joseph  Mott, 
Francis  McArthur, 
William  H.  Marsh, 
Thomas  O'Neal, 
David  O'Hara, 
James  B.  Purdy, 
Samuel  Piper, 
Luther  S.  Pelham, 
Edward  Phillips, 
Joseph  H.  Reed, 
Joseph  J.  Roberts, 
William  Reynard, 
Edward  S.-Rodgers, 
Alexander  Reed, 
Thomas  W.  Rutledge, 
John  B.  Tutton, 
Jacob  Thompson, 
Orin  L.  Vreeland, 
William  Wallace, 
William  Welch, 
William  Woodley, 
Wilmot  Wooleven. 

COMPANY  G. 

Henry  S.  Barrett,* 
Sylvanus  A.  Bennett, 
Thomas  Belknap, 
Joseph  Brabau, 
Alfred  Casgrain, 
Michael  Cassedy, 
August  Chaplin, 
Henry  Campbell, 
Stephen  A.  Carpenter, 
Martin  Conners, 
David  W.  Curry, 
Robert  Davis, 
Thomas  Delano, 
Horace  Dean, 
James  H.  Dewer, 
Richard  Eanser, 
George  W.  Fox, 


Wm.  B.  Flanigan, 
Joseph  Forester, 
Patrick  Hayes, 
Harvey  B.  Hall, 
Hub  Lull, 
John  Lyon, 
John  Miller, 
John  McLeod, 
James  McGowan, 
William  Reeves, 
James  Smith, 
Mathus  Shinners, 
Henry  A.  Smith, 
Frederick  Shieck, 
William  A.  Stone, 
Edward  R.  Smith, 
John  R.  Stevenson, 
William  H.  Warner. 

COMPANY  H. 

G.  W.  Brockinshaw, 
Levi  Clark, 
Henry  H.  Connor, 
Leander  G.  Cutting, 
Joseph  Chutter, 
John  W.  Coverstone, 
Thomas  Cobbeldick, 
Almond  S.  Cook, 
Edward  Calkins, 
John  V.  Dobson, 
Porter  A.  Dean, 
James  Edwards, 
Edward  English, 
Sharon  Elrick,* 
Christopher  H.  Fetzmire, 
Andrew  Fetchelon, 
George  Gottwald, 
William  Gibbons,* 
Philo  Hallett, 
John  B.  Hill, 
Daniel  Horning, 
Frank  E.  Higbee, 
Eleazer  B.  Howard, 
Caleb  G.  Howell, 
Frederick  W.  Holmes, 
Benjamin   H.  Hodge, 
John  Hogan, 
Richard  Hannis, 
Edward  D.  Hoisington, 
Mader  Isabell, 


Thomas  Iddles, 
Frank  Joslyn, 
William  Johnson, 
Thomas  Kane, 
James  H.  Kennicut, 
Francis  Little, 
Bernard  Lucke, 
Daniel  McGraw, 
Angus  Matherson, 
Alvin  H.  Martin, 
Benjamin  Montville, 
Edward  Newberry, 
Adolphus  Nollett, 
James  H.  Owens, 
James  W.  Parker, 
John  Rickel, 
William  F.  Rogers, 
John  Rhea, 
William  Steele, 
Edwin  C.  Stevens, 
Timothy  Sullivan, 
Edward  S.  Staples, 
Archibald  Shotwell, 
Dewain  Sweezy, 
Morris  J.  Smith, 
Chauncey  W.  Stevens, 
William  W.  Studley, 
Alfred  Turner, 
Andrew  Timis, 
Henry  Turner, 
Frank  Whipple, 
Charles  F.  Wickwire, 
Charles  Weed.* 

COMPANY  I. 

Franklin  Bichard, 
Mathew  Black, 
George  Brown, 
James  Blythman, 
Emery  O.  B.  Chadwick, 
Day  Cudderback, 
John  M.  Chapman, 
Michael  Donohue, 
Edward  N.  Davie, 
William  Davaney, 
William  Davis, 
Thomas  Evans, 
Henry  Franklin, 
James  Fancheon, 
William  Graham, 


RECRUITS. 


355 


William  Graham,  Jr., 
William  Gault, 
Sylvester  R.  Holden, 
Theodore  Hiller, 
John  Hollingworth, 
William  Hagarty, 
Robert  Johnson, 
Henry  Jeffrey, 
James  Jeffrey, 
James  Kelley,* 
John  Louw, 
Ezra  Lewis, 
Spencer  Langdon, 
Cornelius  Locker, 
John  McGlenchy, 
Edward  Major, 
Wm.  H.  Morton, 
James  H.  Nortrand, 
Garrett  N.  Nieland, 
John  O'Connor, 
John  W.  Norris, 
Orison  C.  Pierson, 
Amos  H.  Palmer, 
Solomon  Phagon, 
William  L.  Pattison, 
Thomas  E.  Paver, 
John  Quinn, 
Joseph  Quibell, 
Peter  Riley,* 
Everett  Russell, 
Jackson  Robertson, 
James  Roe, 
John  Ryan, 
Richard  Rone, 
John  Rooney, 
Charles  M.  Richeson, 
Thomas  Roberts, 
Joseph  Sharpless, 
William  W.  Sly, 
Harvey  Smith, 
Job  W.  Sexton, 
Richard  Somers, 
Joseph  Sampler, 
John  Scrivan, 
John  K.  Taylor, 
William  H.  Thomas. 
William  Utley, 
William  D.  Warner, 
Samuel  Walters, 
Jacob  Walters, 
Homer  Watson. 


COMPANY  K. 

James  Anderson, 
George  W.  Annis, 
William  H.  Ames, 
Thomas  Brown, 
William  Burke, 
George  G.  Barre, 
George  H.  Barnum, 
William  Breen, 
George  M.  Coy,* 
William  Carmon, 
John  Cook, 
Morris  Cummings, 
Byron  Crittenden, 
Wm.  H.  Dennison, 
George  S.  Engle, 
Andrew  J.  Gallery, 
William  Gordon, 
John  Hewins, 
James  K.  P.  Heath, 
Jacob  Hamp, 
William  Haywood, 
John  Hasley, 
Owen  King, 
Edmund  Little,* 
Ira  Lucas, 
Seymour  A.  Long, 
Robert  Miller, 
Andrew  McBride, 
William  Morse, 
Oliver  G.  Meacham, 
Henry  L.  McCarthy, 
Ezra  McVay, 
Archibald  McLean, 
Charles  Millimine, 
George  W.  McGlenn. 
Bela  H.  Morrow, 
Simon  B.  Meade, 
Charles  F.  Marble, 
Charles  E.  Morgan, 
Thomas  Newton, 
Evert  R.  Nickerson, 
Samuel  O.  Phelps, 
Isaac  F.  Parrish, 
Dexter  B.  Proper, 
Henry  J.  Philleo, 
Albert  H.  Reed, 
Sylvester  Riggs, 
Elijah  J.  Rhinehart, 
John  Shoemaker, 


William  A.  Smalley, 
Edson  Sherman, 
Timothy  Shein, 
Peter  Shewfelt, 
James  K.  Thompson, 
Stephen  Underhill, 
Henry  H.  Van  Est, 
John  Vandercruk, 
William  C.  Voorhies, 
J.  Wickham,* 
Albert  O.  Williams, 
James  H.  Webb, 
Richard  A.  Ward, 
Luther  White, 
George  H.  West. 

UNASSIGNED. 

James  Ackley, 
Bela  Ames, 
William  H.  Ames, 
James  A.  Armstrong, 
Richard  H.  Blodgett, 
Austin  Birch, 
David  Boyd, 
Charles  F.  Beardsley, 
Detzel  Bradford, 
James  Brooks, 
George  A.  Bidwell, 
Robert  Burton, 
Ezra  C.  Crane, 
George  R.  Chapman, 
George  Cornwell, 
Moulton  H.  Canfield, 
James  S.  Cole, 
Jacob  Cole, 
William  E    Craig, 
Marshal  B.  Dunlap, 
James  Daama, 
Theodore  Dickinson, 
Dexter  Davis, 
Peter  Frey, 
John  R.  Fowler, 
Elmore  Gates, 
Peter  D.  Gibson, 
Henry  Griffith, 
James  A.  Gould, 
Edwin  M.  Huntington, 
Henry  J.  Haight, 
William  Hartranft, 
William  E.  Hunt, 


356 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


Samuel  A.  Hubbard, 
Michael  Hartigan, 
George  Hett, 
John  Harris, 
Robert  Harding, 
William  Havens, 
William  Hollister, 
Nelson  Hendershot, 
Edward  Harrison, 
George  S.  Johnson, 
John  Jones, 
Edward  Leeland, 
Lewis  Lebeaux, 
Lewis  Mapes, 
Jackson  R.  Myres, 
Jacob  Munshaw, 
Jerome  Moekma, 
William  H.  Mitchell, 


John  Niblas, 
Mathew  Notier, 
Edwin  C.  Noyes, 
John  Preston, 
Jasper  Perry, 
Charles  Pike, 
Frank  S.  Popplewell, 
William  A.  Peavey, 
Amos  W.  Rogers, 
Richard  R.  Root, 
George  Reese, 
Otis  Reed, 
B.  J.  Reeves, 
David  R.  Ragan, 
Maxwin  Robedeaux, 
Edward  Robinson, 
David  B.  Shannon, 
Charles  H.  Safford, 
William  W.  Lewis, 


Emery  D.  Still, 
Richard  Scarritt, 
James  Thomas, 
John  F.  Tidd, 
Gardner  A.  Terry, 
Henry  G.  Thompson, 
Jos.  T.  Van  Amburg, 
David  R.  Wood, 
Ira  Wayland, 
Robert  Wycoff, 
Henry  White, 
William  Wright, 
James  W.  Whittaker, 
Wm.  W.  Woodford, 
Christopher  A.  Walker, 
William  Weir, 
Hamilton  Walker, 
Wm.  H.  Wright. 


The  "  unassigned"  enlisted  before  the  close  of  the  war,  but  most 
of  them  arrived  in  Camp  Butler  for  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  a 
few  days  after  its  maximum  number  was  made  up.  They  were 
organized  into  a  company  by  themselves  and  Lieut.  Augustus 
F.  Ziegler  was  detailed  by  Col.  A.  M.  Edwards  to  command  them. 
They  were  discharged  with  the  regiment. 


CHAPTER  'XVIII. 


ROSTER  OF  THE  OFFICERS. 


OLLOWING  are  the  records  of  the  officers  of  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Michigan  Infantry.  The  star  (*)  signifies: 
"  Mustered  out  with  the  Regiment  at  Detroit,  Michigan, 
June  30,  1865." 

FIELD   AND   STAFF. 

HENRY  A.  MORROW.  Colonel,  Aug.  15,  1862.  Brevet  Brig.-Gen'l  U.  S.  Vols.  by 
the  President  on  recommendation  of  Gen.  Meade,  Dec.  2,  1864,  to  rank  from  Aug.  i,  1864, 
"  for  gallant  and  distinguished  services  during  the  present  campaign  before  Richmond." 
Brevet  Major-Gen'l,  U.  S.  Vols.,  to  rank  from  Feb.  6,  1865,  "  for  conspicuous  bravery 
and  general  good  conduct  at  the  battle  of  Dabney's  Mills,  Va." — On  leaves  of  absence 
from  Feb.  12  to  16,  from  March  24  to  April  i,  from  June  i  to  5,  1863  ;  from  March  7  to 
ii,  and  Sept.  20  to  Nov.  12,  1864.  On  sick  leaves  from  July  14  to  Aug.  7  and  Oct.  10  to 
Dec.  6,  1863.  On  Recruiting  Service  in  Michigan  from  March  21  to  May  i  and  Aug.  2  to 
Sept.  20,  1864.  On  Court  of  Inquiry  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  from  Oct.  5  to  Nov.  7,  1864. — 
Commanded  Iron  Brigade  from  Nov.  4  to  6,  1862  ;  from  June  7  to  13  and  Aug.  21  to  23, 
1863  ;  from  Jan.  3  to  Feb.  28,  1864  ;  and  from  Dec.  22,  1864  to  Jan.  20,  1865. — In  battles 
of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Wilderness  and 
Dabney's  Mill.  On  Mud  March  and  Raid  on  Weldon  Railroad  to  Hicksford  on  the 
Meherrin  River.  In  command  of  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions  and  jointly 
with  Col.  Bragg  of  the  6th  Wis.  at  Fitzhugh  Crossing  ;  also,  on  Raccoon  Ford  recon- 
noissance. — Wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  i,  1863,  and  taken  prisoner.  Escaped  without 
parole  on  July  4.  Wounded  severely  in  leg  at  Wilderness,  May  5,  1864  ;  also  wounded  at 
Dabney's  Mill,  Feb.  7,  1864.  —  Left  Regiment  permanently  at  Springfield,  111.,  April  14, 
1865,  to  command  the  Iron  Brigade,  until  June  22.  In  command  of  Provisional  Division 
(including  Iron  Brigade),  at  Louisville,  Ky,  from  June  22  to  July  19,  1865,  when  he  was 
mustered  out.  Lieut. -Colonel  36th  U.  S.  Inf.  July  28,  1866.  To  isth  U.  S.  Inf.  March 
15,  1869.  Colonel  2ist  U.  S.  Inf.  April  27,  1879. 

MARK  FLANIGAN.  Lieut. -Colonel,  Aug.  15,  1862.  In  command  of  Regiment  from 
Nov.  4  to  6,  1862  ;  Feb.  9  to  16,  March  24  to  April  i,  June  i  to  5  and  7  to  13,  1863. — In 
battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg.  On  Mud 
March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions.  Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  losing  a 
leg.  Discharged  for  wounds  Nov.  21,  1863.  Brevet  Colonel,  U.  S.  Vols.,  March  13, 
1865,  "  for  gallantry  in  action  at  Fredericksburg,  Va."  Brevet  Brig.-Gen'l,  March  13, 
1865,  "for  meritorious  conduct  in  the  campaign  of  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  and  for  services  in 
that  engagement." 

WILLIAM  W.  WIGHT.  Captain  of  K,  July  26,  1862.  Lieut. -Colonel,  Feb.  i,  1864 
to  rank  from  Nov.  22,  1863.  In  command  of  Regiment  from  Feb.  i  to  28  ;  from  March 

(357) 


358  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

8  to  ii ;  from  March  21  to  May  i;  from  May  5  to  g  and  from  May  23  to  June  9,  1864.  In 
battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Locust 
Grove,  Wilderness  (May  6  and  7,  1864),!  Laurel  Hill  (May  8),f  Jericho  Ford.f  North 
Anna,  f  Tolopotomoy  and  Bethesda  Church,  f  On  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland 
Expeditions,  Campaign  of  Maneuvers  and  Mine  Run;  also,  Raccoon  Ford  Reconnoissance. 
— On  sick  leaves  from  Jan.  i  to  Feb.  8  and  from  Aug.  n  to  Oct.  6,  1863.  In  Field 
Hospital  from  May  9  to  23,  1864.  Wounded  at  Gettysburg.  Resigned  for  disability, 
June  9,  1864.  Left  the  Regiment  behind  their  works  near  Bethesda  Church. 

ALBERT  M.  EDWARDS.  Captain  of  F,  Aug.  15,  1862,  to  rank  from  July  26.  Major, 
Feb.  i,  1864,  to  rank  from  Nov.  22,  1863.  Lieut. -Colonel,  July  17,  1864,  to  rank  from 
June  9.  Acting  Assistant  Inspector  General  from  June  ii  to  13,  1863.  Brevet  Colonel, 
March  13,  1865,  "for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  during  the  war." — In  command  of 
Regiment  from  4.30  P.  M.  July  i  to  July  4,  1863;  from  July  14  to  Aug.  9,  from  Aug.  21  to 
23  and  Oct.  10  to  Dec.  6,  1863:  also,  from  Jan.  3  to  Feb  i,  May  9  to  23  and  June  9  to 
Nov.  13,  1864;  also,  from  Jan  17  to  20,  from  Jan.  24  to  March  31,  from  April  14  to  22, 
on  May  4  and  from  June  17  to  30,  1865. — To  Alexandria  for  1,300  convalescents,  June  25 
to  29,  1863.  On  leave  of  absence  from  Feb.  10  to  25,  1864;  also  from  Dec.  22,  1864,  to 
Jan.  16,  1865.  To  New  York  with  recruits  from  April  5  to  12,  1865.  In  command  of 
Camp  Butler,  111.,  from  April  14  to  25,  1865.  President  of  General  Court  Martial  at 
Springfield,  111.,  from  April  24  to  June  17,  1865.  On  Guard  of  Honor  over  President 
Lincoln's  remains,  May  3,  1865. —  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing, 
Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg  (in  command  after  4.30  P.  M.  July  i,)  Locust  Grove, f 
Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  (May  9  to  12), f  Salient  at  Spottsylvariia.f  Jericho  Ford,  North 
Anna,  Tolopotomoy,  Bethesda  Church,  Cold  Harbor,  f  Petersburg,  f  Siege  of 
Petersburg,!  Weldon  Railroad, f  Hatcher's  Runf  and  Dabney's  Mill.f  On  Mud 
March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions,  Campaign  of  Maneuvers, f  Mine 
Run,f  Reconnoissances  to  Raccoonville,  Yellow  Tavernf  and  Vaughn  Road.f  and  Raid 
to  Meherrin  River.*  Never  wounded — In  every  battle  and  march  of  the  regiment. 

HENRY  W.  NALL.  Major,  Sept.  4,  1862.  Appointed  to  try  cases  in  Regimental 
Court  Martial  offenses,  Sept.  25.  In  battle  of  Fredericksburg.  On  sick  leave  from  Dec. 
18,  1862,  until  honorably  discharged  for  sickness,  April  17,  1863.  Left  Regiment  in 
bivouac  near  Falmouth,  Dec.  20,  1862. 

EDWIN  B.   WIGHT.     Captain  of  A,  July  26,    1862.     Acting  Major  from  Dec.    18, 

1862,  to  June  22,    1863,    when  he  was  mustered  as  full   Major  to  rank  from  June   i. 
Appointed  Dec.  24,  1862,  to  try  cases  in  Regimental  Court  Martial  offenses.     In  battles  of 
Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville  and   Gettysburg.     On  Mud   March, 
Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions  and  Campaign  of  Maneuvers.     Wounded  at 
Gettysburg  July  i,  1863,  losing  an  eye,  while  acting  as  Lieutenant-Colonel.      Returned  to 
Regiment    Sept.    23  while  it  was  at    "Camp   Peck"   near  Culpepper,    Va.     Honorably 
discharged  for  wounds,   Nov.    17,    1863,    being  pronounced  by  his  Division  and    Corps. 
Surgeons  unfit  for  further  duty  in  the  field.      Left  Regiment  near  Beverly  Ford,   Nov. 
20,    1863. 

WILLIAM  HUTCHINSON.      ist  Lieutenant  of  G,   July  26,    1862.     Captain,  April  20, 

1863,  to  rank  from   March    10.      Major,   July   17,    1864,   to  rank   from  June  9.     Brevet 
Lieut. -Colonel,  March  13,  1865,  "for  gallant  and  meritorious  service  during  the  war."     In 
command  of  the  Regiment  from  Dec.  22,  1864,   to  Jan.  17,    1865,    and  from  April   22  to 
June  17.     In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg, 
Locust  Grove,  Siege  of  Petersburg,  Weldon  Railroad  and  Hatcher's  Run.    On  Mud  March, 


t  In  command  of  Regiment. 


ROSTER   OF   THE   OFFICERS.  359 

Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions,  Campaign  of  Maneuvers,  Mine  Run, 
Reconnoissances  to  Yellow  Tavern  and  Vaughn  Road  and  Raid  to  Meherrin  River. — On 
detached  service  in  Michigan  from  Feb.  5  to  June  19,  1864.  Wounded  at  Gettysburg  and 
behind  works  before  Petersburg,  June  iq,  1864,  a  few  minutes  after  his  return  to  Regiment 
from  Michigan.  On  leave  of  absence  from  Jan.  20  to  Feb.  22  and  from  March  i  to 
April  22,  1865.  Served  a  tour  as  Guard  of  Honor  over  remains  of  President  Lincoln, 
May  3,  1865.* 

DR.  JOHN  H.  BEECH.  Surgeon,  Aug.  24,  1862,  to  rank  from.  Aug  15.  With 
wounded  at  Gettysburg  until  Aug.  19,  1863.  Acting  Brigade  Surgeon  Dec.  31,  1863, 
Surgeon-in-Chief  of  Iron  Brigade  from  July,  1864,  to  March,  1865.  Returned  to  Regiment 
at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  March  12.  Resigned  for  ill  health,  April,  4,  1865. 

DR.  CHARLES  C.  SMITH.  ist  Assistant  Surgeon,  Aug.  15,  1862.  Honorably 
discharged  on  tender  of  resignation,  Feb.  14,  1863.  Left  Regiment  at  Belle  Plain,  Va., 
Feb.  16,  1863. 

DR.  ALEXANDER  COLLAR.      2d  Assistant  Surgeon,  Aug.  18,  1862,  to 'rank  from  Aug. 

14.  Left  with  wounded  at  Gettysburg  until  honorably  discharged  for  ill  health,  Sept.  *8, 
1863. 

DR.  GEORGE  W.  TOWAR,  jr.  Joined  Regiment  at  Belle  Plain,  as  Assistant  Surgeon, 
April  5,  1863,  to  rank  from  March  i.  On  duty  with  sharpshooters  connected  with  the 
Iron  Brigade,  during  autumn  of  1863  till  Nov.  ist.  With  wounded  after  Wilderness  from 
May  5  to  May  29,  1864.  Returned  to  duty  with  Regiment.* 

DR.  EDWARD  LAUDERDALE.  2d  Assistant  Surgeon,  April  n,  1865,  to  rank  from 
March  30.  Joined  Regiment  at  Camp  Butler,  111.* 

JAMES  J.  BA-RNS.  ist  Lieut,  and  Adjutant,  Aug  15,  1862.  On  sick  leave  from 
Oct.  25,  1862,  to  Feb.  5,  1863.  In  battles  of  Fitzhugh  Crossing  and  Chancellorsville. 
On  Port  Royal  Expedition.  Resigned  for  disability  May  9,  1863.  Left  Regiment  at 
"Camp  Way"  near  Fitzhugh. 

SERIL  CHILSON.  Enlisted  in  D,  Aug.  5,  1862.  To  4th  Corporal  Jan.  25,  1863. 
Brigade  Quartermaster's  Clerk  from  Jan.  10  to  Aug,  27,  1863.  ist  Lieut,  and  Adjutant, 
Sept.  15,  1863.  On  leave  of  absence  from  Dec.  19,  1863,  to  Jan.  5,  1864.  Acting  Aide 
on  General  Cutler's  Staff,  at  Division  Headquarters,  June  5,  1864.  In  battle  of 
Fredericksburg,  Campaign  of  Maneuvers,  Locust  Grove,  Mine  Run,  Reconnoissance  to 
Raccoonville,  battles  of  Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  Spottsylvania,  Jericho  Ford,  North 
Anna,  Tolopotomoy,  Bethesda  Church,  Cold  Harbor  and  Petersburg.  Killed  in  battle 
before  Petersburg,  June  18,  1864. 

LEWIS  H.  CHAMBERLIN.       Enlisted  Aug.    12,    1862,   in  F.     To  4th  Sergeant  Aug. 

15.  On  detached  service  at  ist  Army  Corps  Headquarters  from  May  17  to  Sept.  9,  1863. 
To  ist  Sergeant,  May  i,  1864.      ist  Lieutenant,  July  6,  1864,  to  rank  from  Nov.  22,  1863. 
(Not  mustered.)     ist  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant,  July  28,  1864  to  rank  from  June   19. — On 
detached  service  at  Grand  Rapids  and  Jackson,    Mich.,    from  Feb.  i  to  Aug.  13,  1864. 
Returned  to  Regiment  Aug.  14,  1864. —  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,   Fitzhugh  Crossing, 
Chancellorsville,    Gettysburg,    Locust   Grove,    Siege   of    Petersburg,    Weldon    Railroads 
Hatcher's  Run,  and  Dabney's  Mill.     On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  Expedition,   Campaign 
of  Maneuvers,  Mine  Run,  Reconnoissances  to  Yellow  Tavern,  Vaughn  Road  and  Raid  to 
Meherrin   River.  —  Wounded    at  Dabney's  Mill,   Feb.  7,  1865.     To  New  York  with  300 
conscripts  from  Camp  Butler,  111,  in  March,  1865.* 

DIGBY  V.  BELL,  jr.  ist  Lieut,  and  Regimental  Quartermaster.  July  28,  1862. 
Acting  Brigade  Commissary,  Nov.  4  1862.  On  leave  of  absence  from  Feb.  25  to 


360  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

March  15,  1863.  Acting  Commissary  of  Subsistence  for  Iron  Brigade,  Oct.  18,  1863. 
Honorably  discharged  on  tender  of  resignation,  Nov.  3,  1863.  Left  Regiment  near 
Beverly  Ford,  Va.,  Nov.  17. 

DAVID  CONGDON.     Enlisted  in  H,  Aug.  8,  1862.     Quartermaster's  Clerk,   October, 

1862.  ist  Lieut,  and  Regimental   Quartermaster,  Jan.   27,    1864,  to  rank  from  Nov.   3, 
1863.* 

REV.  WILLIAM  C.  WAY.  Chaplain,  Aug.  19,  1862,  to  rank  from  July  26.  With 
wounded  several  weeks  after  Gettysburg.  Returned  to  Regiment,  Sept.  13,  1863.  On 
duty  in  Field  Hospital  of  4th  Division,  5th  Corps,  from  July  4  to  Sept.  23,  1864,  and  for 
two  weeks  from  Nov.  15.  Correspondent  of  Detroit  Tribune  while  in  the  service.  Only 
Chaplain  of  a  Michigan  Regiment  who  remained  in  the  service  from  the  muster-in  to  the 
muster-out  of  his  regiment.* 

LINE   OFFICERS  —  CAPTAINS. 

ISAAC  W.  INGERSOLL.  Captain  of  B,  July  26,  1862.  In  battle  of  Fredericksburg. 
Resigned  for  old  age  and  disability,  Dec.  20,  1862.  Left  Regiment  on  march  from 
Falmouth  to  Belle  Plain,  Dec.  22,  1862. 

CALVIN  B.  CROSBY.  Captain*of  C,  July  26,  1862.  Resigned  for  ill  health,  Dec. 
5,  1862.  Left  Regiment  at  Brooks'  Station,  Va.,  Dec.  9. 

WILLIAM  J.  SPEED.  Captain  of  D,  July  26,  1862.  Division  Judge  Advocate  of 
General  Court  Martial,  October,  1862.  On  Sick  Leave  from  Jan.  3  to  Feb.  7,  1863. 
In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  and  Gettysburg. 
On  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions.  Killed  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863, 
while  Acting-Major  of  his  Regiment. 

JAMES  CULLEN.  Captain  of  E,  July  26,  1862.  In  battle  of  Fredericksburg. 
Resigned  for  disability,  Dec.  20,  1862.  Left  Regiment  on  march  from  Falmouth  to 
Belle  Plain. 

WILLIAM  A.  OWEN.  Captain  of  G,  July  26,  1862.  Wounded  at  Fredericksburg, 
Dec.  13,  1862,  by  concussion  of  spine  by  shell.  Absent  in  General  Hospital  from 
Dec.  16,  1862,  to  March  7,  1863.  Discharged  March  14,  1863,  at  Belle  Plain,  Va.,  for 
injury  received  in  action  at  Fredericksburg. 

WARREN  G.  VINTON.  Captain  of  H,  July  26,  1862.  In  battle  of  Fredericksburg, 
Dec.  13,  1862.  Honorably  discharged  for  ill  health  upon  advice  of  surgeons,  Dec.  29, 
i8§2.  Left  Regiment  at  Belle  Plain,  Va. 

GEORGE  C.  GORDON.  Captain  of  I,  July  .26,  1862.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg, 
Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal 
and  Westmoreland  Expeditions.  Prisoner  at  Gettysburg,  July  I,  1863.  Confined  in 
Libby,  Andersonville  and  Millen,  Ga.,  and  Columbia,  S.  C.  Escaped  three  times  and 
twice  re-captured.  Final  escape,  Feb.  14,  1865.  Returned  to  Regiment  at  Camp 
Butler,  111.,  May  I.  Nominally  in  command  of  Regiment,  June  16,  1865  —  one  day. 
Brevet  Major,  March  13,  1865,  "for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  during  the 
war."* 

WILLIAM  H.  REXFORD.  ist  Lieutenant  of  B,  July  26,  1862.  Captain,  Dec.  20, 
to  rank  from  Dec.  13.  Acting  Adjutant  from  May  9  to  July  i,  1863.  In  battles  of 
Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg.  On  Mud 
March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions.  Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July  i, 

1863.  Honorably  discharged  for  wounds,  Nov.  21,  1863. 


ROSTER   OF  THE   OFFICERS.  361 

CHARLES  A.  HOYT.  ist  Lieutenant  of  C,  July  26,  1862.  Captain,  Dec.  13.  On 
Sick  Leave  from  March  18  to  May  10,  1863.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg  and 
Gettysburg.  On  Mud  March  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions.  Wounded  at 
Fredericksburg,  Dec.  13,  1862,  and  severely  at  Gettysburg,  July  I,  1863.  Honorably 
discharged  for  wounds,  Nov.  21,  1863. 

MALACHI  J.  O'DONNELL.  2d  Lieutenant  of  E,  July  26,  1862.  Captain,  Dec.  24. 
In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg. 
On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions.  Killed  at  Gettysburg, 
July  I,  1863. 

JOHN  C.  MERRITT.  ist  Lieutenant  of  H,  July  26,  1862.  Captain,  Dec.  29.  On 
Leave  of  Absence  from  April  26  to  May  10,  1863.  In  battle  of  Fredericksburg.  On 
Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions.  Sent  to  Georgetown 
Hospital,  June  18,  while  Regiment  was  at  Guilford  C.  H.,  Va.  Died  o'f  typhoid  fever 
at  Georgetown,  D.  C.,  July  9,  1863. 

RICHARD  S.  DILLON,  ist  Lieutenant  of  A,  July  26,  1862.  Captain,  June  22, 
1863,  to  rank  from  June  i.  Acting  Assistant  Inspector  General  of  Iron  Brigade  from 
Jan.  6  to  Aug.  5,  1864.  Brevet  Major,  April  9,  1865,  "for  meritorious  services  during 
the  campaign  terminating  in  the  surrender  of  the  insurgent  army  under  Gen.  R.  E. 
Lee."  On  Recruiting  Service  in  Michigan  from  Aug.  6  to  Nov.  2,  1864.  In  command 
of  Pioneers,  Headquarters  3d  Division,  5th  Corps,  from  December,  1864,  until  after 
Lee's  surrender.  Returned  to  Regiment  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  May  30,  1865.  In 
battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Locust 
Grove,  Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  Salient  at  Spottsylvania,  Jericho  Ford,  North  Anna, 
Tolopotomoy,  Bethesda  Church,  (field  of  Cold  Harbor),  Petersburg,  Siege  of 
Petersburg,  Dabney's  Mill,  Boydton  Plank  Road,  White  Oak  Ridge,  Five  Forks  and 
Appomattox.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions,  Campaign 
of  Maneuvers,  Mine  Run  and  Raid  to  Meherrin  River.  Wounded  at  Gettysburg, 
July  I,  1863,  and  returned  to  duty  August  30,  1863.* 

JOHN  M.  FARLAND.  ist  Lieutenant  of  D,  July  26,  1862.  Acting  Assistant 
Quartermaster,  ist  Corps,  from  March  20  to  May  15,  1863.  Captain,  Aug.  31,  1863,  to 
rank  from  July  4.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg  and 
Locust  Grove.  On  Mud  March,  Westmoreland  Expedition,  Campaign  of  Maneuvers, 
Mine  Run  and  Reconnoissance  to  Raccoonville.  Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July  I, 
1863.  Returned  to  Regiment  in  August.  On  Sick  Leave  from  March  20,  1864, 
until  discharged  for  disability,  July  9,  1864. 

GEORGE  HUTTON.  ist  Sergeant  of  G,  July  24,  1862.  Ordnance  Sergeant, 
Nov.  13,  1862.  2d  Lieutenant  of  C,  Dec  13.  Acting  Adjutant  from  Jan.  17  to  Feb.  8, 
1863.  Acting  Regimental  Quartermaster  from  Feb.  23  to  March  23.  ist  Lieutenant 
of  I,  March  i.  Acting  Adjutant  from  July  2  to  Sept.  15.  Captain  of  E,  Aug.  31,  1863, 
to  rank  from  July  4.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellors 
ville,  Gettysburg,  Locust  Grove  and  Wilderness.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and 
Westmoreland  Expeditions,  Campaign  of  Maneuvers,  Mine  Run  and  Reconnoissance 
to  Raccoonville.  Killed  in  Wilderness  battle,  May  5,  1864.  Body  never  found. 
Supposed  to  have  been  burned 

EDWIN  E.  NORTON.  Enlisted  in  F  and  became  Sergeant  Major,  Aug.  16,  1862. 
ist  Lieutenant  of  E,  Dec.  24,  1862.  Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863.  Captain 
of  H,  Sept.  30,  1863,  to  rank  from  July  9.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh 
Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Locust  Grove  and  Wilderness.  On  Mud 
March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions,  Campaign  of  Maneuvers,  Mine 
C25) 


362  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN. 

Run  and  Reconnoissance  to  Raccoon  Ford.  Prisoner  at  Wilderness,  May  5,  1864. 
Released  Feb.  8,  1865.  Returned  to  Regiment  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  April  2.6*  (Had 
been  private  in  ist  Michigan,  3  mo..  Inf.) 

GEORGE  W.  BURCHELL.  2d  Lieutenant  of  G,  July  26,  1862.  ist  Lieutenant, 
April  17,  1863,  to  rank  from  March  10.  Captain  of  B,  Jan.  29,  1864,  to  rank  from  Nov. 
21,  1863.  On  Recruiting  Service  in  Michigan  from  March  24  to  May  3,  1864.  In  battles 
of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing  (field  of  Chancellorsville),  Locust  Grove, 
Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  Salient  at  Spottyslvania,  Bethesda  Church  (field  of  Cold 
Harbor),  Petersburg,  Siege  of  Petersburg,  Weldon  Railroad  and  Hatcher's  Run.  On 
Mud  March,  Port  Royal  Expedition,  Campaign  of  Maneuvers,  Mine  Run, 
Reconnoissances  to  Raccoon  Ford,  Yellow  Tavern  and  Vaughn  Road. —  Wounded  at 
Fitzhugh  Crossing,  April  29,  1863.  Returned  to  Regiment  in  August.  W'd  at  Laurel 
Hill,  May,  12,-  1864.  Returned  to  duty  June  3.  W'd  before  Petersburg,  June  18. 
Returned  to  duty  June  26,  1864.  Appointed,  Dec.  28,  1864,  to  try  Regimental  Court 
Martial  cases.  Resigned  for  disability  Jan.  21,  1865.  Left  Regiment  at  "  Camp 
Crawford,"  in  front  of  Petersburg. 

JOHN  WITHERSPOON.  ist  Sergeant  of  B,  July  24,  1862.  2d  Lieutenant,  Dec.  13. 
On  leave  of  absence  from  Jan.  14  to  31,  1863.  ist  Lieutenant  of  C,  Sept.  i,  1863,  to 
rank  from  July  14.  Captain,  Feb.  I,  1864,  to  rank  from  Nov.  22,  1863.  Wounded  at 
Wilderness,  May  5,  1864.  Returned  August  5.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh 
Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Locust  Grove,  Wilderness,  Weldon  Railroad, 
Hatcher's  Run  and  Dabney's  Mill.  On  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions, 
Campaign  of  Maneuvers,  Mine  Run,  and  Siege  of  Petersburg,  on  Reconnoissances  to 
Raccoon  Ford,  Yellow  Tavern  and  Vaughn  Road.  On  General  Court  Martial  at 
Springfield,  111.,  June  14  to  17,  1865.*  (Private  in  ist  Michigan,  3  mo.,  Inf.  Severely 
wounded  in  wrist  at  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861.) 

WILLIAM  R.  DODSLEY.  Enlisted  in  H,  Aug.  5,  1862.  ist  Sergeant,  Aug.  15. 
2d  Lieutenant  to  rank  from  Dec.  29.  Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July  I,  1863.  Returned 
July  27.  ist  Lieutenant  of  K,  to  rank  from  Sept.  i,  1863.  Captain,  Feb.  i,  1864,  to 
rank  from  Nov.  22,  1863.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing, 
Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Locust  Grove,  Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  Salient  at 
Spottsylvania,  Jericho  Ford,  North  Anna,  Tolopotomoy,  Bethesda  Church,  (field  of 
Cold  Harbor),  Petersburg,  Siege  of  Petersburg,  Weldon  Railroad,  Hatcher's  Run  and 
Dabney's  Mill.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions,  Campaign 
of  Maneuvers,  Mine  Run,  Reconnoissances  to  Raccoon  Ford,  Yellow  Tavern,  Vaughn 
Road  and  Raid  to  Meherrin  River.  Served  on  Court  Martial  while  in  front  of 
Petersburg,  Va.,  and  on  General  Court  Martial  in  Springfield,  111.,  from  April  24  to 
June  17,  1865.  Served  as  Guard  of  Honor  over  remains  of  President  Lincoln,  at 
Springfield  Capitol,  111.,  May  3,  1865.* 

GEORGE  W.  HAIGH.  ist  Sergeant  of  D,  Aug.  12,  1862.  Acting  Regimental 
Quartermaster  from  Oct.  18,  1863,  to  Jan.  29,  1864,  and  from  March  13  to  April  22, 
1864.  ist  Lieutenant,  Oct.  7,  1863,  to  rank  from  July  4.  Wounded  at  Fitzhugh 
Crossing,  April  29,  1863.  Returned  June  23.  Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863. 
Captain,  May  3,  1864,  to  rank  from  Nov.  22,  1863.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg, 
Fitzhugh  Crossing,  (field  of  Chancellorsville),  Gettysburg,  Locust  Grove,  Wilderness, 
Jericho  Ford,  North  Anna,  Tolopotomoy,  Bethesda  Church  (field  of  Cold  Harbor), 
Petersburg,  Siege  of  Petersburg,  Weldon  Railroad,  Hatcher's  Run  and  Dabney's  Mill. 
On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  Expedition,  Campaign  of  Maneuvers,  Mine  Run, 
Reconnoissances  to  Raccoon  Ford,  Yellow  Tavern,  Vaughn  Road  and  Raid  to 
Meherrin  River. 


ROSTER   OF  THE   OFFICERS.  363 

H.  REES  WHITING,  ad  Lieutenant  of  A,  July  26,  1862.  Acting  Adjutant  from 
Oct.  23,  1862,  to  Jan.  25,  1863.  Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Dec.  13,  1862.  Captured 
at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863.  Paroled  from  Libby  Prison,  March  14,  1864.  Returned 
to  duty  June  29,  1864.  Captain  of  E,  to  rank  from  May  6.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg, 
Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Siege  of  Petersburg,  Weldon 
Railroad,  Hatcher's  Run,  Dabney's  Mills,  Boydton  Plank  Road,  White  Oak  Road, 
Five  Forks  and  Appomattox.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland 
Expeditions,  Reconnoissances  to  Yellow  Tavern,  Vaughn  Road  and  Raid  to  Meherrin 
River.  Acting  Aide  on  Staff  of  Gen'l  Henry  A.  Morrow,  3d  Brigade,  and  Staff  of 
Gen'l  Crawford  of  3d  Division,  5th  Corps,  from  Feb.  5,  1865,  till  after  Lee's  surrender. 
Returned  to  Regiment  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  June  8.  Brevet  Major,  April  I.  1865,  "  for 
gallant  and  meritorious  services  in  front  of  Petersburg."* 

ANDREW  J.  CONNOR.  Enlisted  in  F,  Aug.  5,  1862,  and  became  Adjutant's 
Clerk.  Sergeant  Major,  April  17,  1863,  to  rank  from  March  10.  Wounded  at 
Gettysburg,  July,  I,  1863.  Returned  to  duty  Aug.  22.  ist  Lieutenant  of  E,  Oct.  7,  to 
rank  from  July  9.  Acting  Adjutant  from  December  20,  1863,  to  Jan.  5,  1864.  Acting 
Regimental  Quartermaster  from  April  22  to  25,  1864.  Captain  of  F,  June  9  and  of  G, 
Aug.  4,  1864.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville, 
Gettysburg,  Locust  Grove,  Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  Salient  at  Spottsylvania,  Jericho 
Ford,  North  Anna,  Tolopotomoy,  Bethesda  Church  (field  of  Cold  Harbor),  Petersburg, 
Siege  of  Petersburg  and  Weldon  Railroad.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and 
Westmoreland  Expeditions,  Campaign  of  Maneuvers  and  Mine  Run,  and  Reconnois 
sances  to  Raccoon  Ford,  Yellow  Tavern  and  Vaughn  Road.  Discharged  for  disability, 
Oct.  14,  1864. 

BENJAMIN  W.  HENDRICKS.  2d  Sergeant  in  G,  Aug.  12,  1862  ist  Sergeant, 
Feb.  20,  1863.  Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863.  On  Recruiting  service  in 
Michigan  from  Jan.  4  to  April  25,  1864.  ist  Lieutenant  of  E,  April  30,  1864,  to  rank 
from  Nov.  21,  1863.  In  command  of  F,  May  3,  1864.  Wounded  in  Wilderness,  May  6. 
Captain  of  G,  Nov.  19,  1864,  to  rank  from  Oct.  14.  Wounded  at  Dabney's  Mill,  Feb.  6, 
1865.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg, 
Locust  Grove,  Wilderness,  Siege  of  Petersburg,  Weldon  Railroad,  Hatcher's  Run  and 
Dabney's  Mill.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions, 
Campaign  of  Maneuvers,  Mine  Run,  Reconnoissances  to  Yellow  Tavern  and  Vaughn 
Road,  and  on  Raid  to  Meherrin  River.* 

GEORGE  A.  Ross.  2d  Corporal  in  F,  Aug.  13,  1862.  3d  Sergeant,  Sept.  29.  ist 
Sergeant,  July  i,  1863.  On  Recruiting  Service  in  Michigan  from  Jan.  4  to  April  25, 
1864.  ist  Lieutenant  of  I,  April  28,  1864,  to  rank  from  April  13.  Captain  of  F,  Oct. 
26,  1864,  to  rank  from  Oct.  17.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing, 
Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Locust  Grove,  Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  Salient  at 
Spottsylvania,  Jericho  Ford,  North  Anna,  Tolopotomoy,  Bethesda  Church  (field  of 
Cold  Harbor),  Petersburg,  Siege  of  Petersburg,  Weldon  Railroad  and  Hatcher's  Run. 
On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions,  Campaign  of  Maneuvers 
and  Mine  Run  ;  Reconnoissances  to  Yellow  Tavern  and  Vaughn  Road,  and  Raid  to 
Meherrin  River.  On  Leave  of  Absence  from  Jan.  20  to  Feb.  10,  1865.  On  General 
Court  Martial  at  Springfield,  111.,  June  14  to  17,  1865.* 

EDWARD  B.  WILKIE.  5th  Sergeant  in  A,  Aug.  12,  1862.  4th  Sergeant,  Nov.  13. 
2d  Sergeant,  Jan.  24,  1863.  Ist  Lieutenant,  Oct.  7,  1863,  to  rank  from  June  i.  In 
command  of  G,  Jan.  24,  1864  ;  of  I,  May  3  ;  of  G,  from  Oct.  15  to  Nov.  19,  and  of  H 
from  Dec.  i  to  March  14,  1865.  Missing  May  5  to  19,  1864.  To  duty  July  3,  1864. 


364  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Locust 
Grove,  Wilderness,  Siege  of  Petersburg,  Weldon  Railroad,  Hatcher's  Run  and 
Dabney's  Mill.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions, 
Campaign  of  Maneuvers,  Mine  Run  ;  Reconnoisances  to  Raccoon  Ford,  Yellow 
Tavern,  Vaughn  Road,  and  Raid  to  Meherrin  River.  Captain  of  B,  March  14,  1865, 
to  rank  from  Jan.  21.* 


FIRST.  LIEUTENANTS. 

JOHN  J.  LENNON.  ist  Lieutenant  of  E,  July  26,  1862.  In  battle  of  Fredericksburg. 
Honorably  discharged  for  disability,  Dec.  20,  1862. 

ARA  W.  SPRAGUE.  ist  Lieutenant  of  F,  July  26,  1862.  In  battles  of  Fredericks 
burg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg.  On  Mud  March,  Port 
Ro'yal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions.  Prisoner  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863.  Died  in 
rebel  prison  at  Charleston,  S.  C.,  Oct.  14,  1864. 

HENRY  P.  KINNEY.  ist  Lieutenant  of  I,  July  26,  1862.  Acting  Regimental 
Quartermaster,  Nov.  7,  1862.  In  battle  of  Fredericksburg.  Dismissed  by  order, 
Jan.  28,  1863. 

WALTER  H.  WALLACE,  ist  Lieutenant  of  K,  July  26,  1862.  In  battles  of 
Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg.  On  Mud  March, 
Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions.  Killed  at  Gettysburg,  July  I,  1863. 

FREDERICK  AUGUSTUS  BUHL.  2d  Lieutenant  of  B,  July  26,  1862.  Acting  Aide 
on  Staff  of  Gen'l  Meredith  from  Nov.  10  to  Dec.  4.  ist  Lieutenant  of  B,  Dec.  20,  to 
rank  from  Dec.  13.  Acting  Regimental  Quartermaster,  March  23,  1863.  In  command 
of  B,  at  Gettysburg,  where  he  was  wounded,  July  I,  1863.  Returned  to  duty  in 
September. — In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville  and 
Gettysburg.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions  and 
Campaign  of  Maneuvers.  Resigned  Nov.  10,  1863,  to  accept  Captain's  commission  in 
ist  Michigan  Cavalry.  Left  Regiment,  Nov.  17,  at  "Camp  Dickey,"  near  Beverly 
Ford,  Va.  Subsequently  killed  in  action. 

WINFIELD  S.  SAFFORU.  2d  Lieutenant  of  C,  July  26,  1862.  ist  Lieutenant, 
Dec.  13.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Filzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville  and 
Gettysburg.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions.  Killed  at 
Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863. 

NEWELL  GRACE.  2d  Lieutenant  of  H,  July  26,  1862.  ist  Lieutenant,  March, 
1863,  to  rank  from  Dec.  13,  1862.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing.' 
Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland 
Expeditions.  Mortally  wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July,  I,  1863.  Died  at  Seminary 
Hospital,  July  3. 

EVERARD  B.  WELTON.  2d  Sergeant  in  H,  Aug.  13,  1862.  ist  Sergeant,  Jan.  i, 
1863.  On  Recruiting  Service  in  Michigan  from  Jan.  4  to  April  25,  1864.  ist 
Lieutenant,  April  29,  1864,  to  rank  from  July  9,  1863.  Acting  Adjutant  from  June  5  to 
Aug.  15,  1864.  In  command  of  H,  Aug.  15.  Acting  Assistant  Provost  Marshal  at 
3d  Division  Headquarters,  5th  Corps,  from  Oct.  II,  1864,  until  after  the  surrender  of 
Lee.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg, 
Locust  Grove,  Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  Salient  at  Spottsylvania,  Jericho  Ford,  North 
Anna,  Tolopotomoy,  Bethesda  Church  (field  of  Cold  Harbor),  Petersburg,  Weldon 
Railroad,  Hatcher's  Run,  Dabney's  Mill,  Boydton  Plank  Road,  White  Oak  Road,  Five 


ROSTER   OF  THE   OFFICERS.  365 

Forks  and  Appomattox.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions, 
Campaign  of  Maneuvers  and  Mine  Run;  on  Reconnoissances  to  Yellow  Tavern, 
Vaughn  Road  and  Raid  to  Meherrin,  River.* 

ABRAHAM  EARNSHAW.  Enlisted  in  I,  July  26,  1862.  2d  Sergeant,  Aug.  15.  ist 
Sergeant,  April  5,  1863.  2d  Lieutenant,  June  20,  1863,  to  rank  from  June  i.  W'd  at 
Gettysburg,  July  I,  1863.  Returned  Sept.  19.  ist  Lieutenant,  Oct.  26,  to  rank  from 
July  4.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg, 
and  Locust  Grove.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions, 
Campaign  of  Maneuvers  and  Mine  Run.  Dismissed  by  order,  March  4,  1864. 

GEORGE  H.  PINKNEY.  Enlisted  in  B,  Aug  12,  1862.  3d  Sergeant,  Aug.  16.  ist 
Sergeant,  July  i,  1863.  On  Recruiting  Service  in  Michigan  from  Jan.  4  to  April  25, 
1864.  ist  Lieutenant  of  K,  April  28,  to  rank  from  Nov.  10,  1863.  Wounded  at 
Gettysburg,  July  I,  1863,  and  before  Petersburg,  June  21,  1864.  In  battles  of 
Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Locust  Grove, 
Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  Salient  at  Spottsylvania.  Jericho  Ford,  North  Anna, 
Tolopotomoy,  Bethesda  Church  (field  of  Cold  Harbor),  and  Petersburg.  On  Mud 
March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions,  Campaign  of  Maneuvers  and  Mine 
Run.  Accidentally  killed  by  discharge  of  a  revolver  in  hands  of  a  Union  soldier  in  a 
tent  at  Camp  Taylor,  near  Arlington  Heights,  Va.,  Aug.  15,  1864. 

MICHAEL  DEMPSEY.  Enlisted  in  E,  July  21,  1862.  5th  Sergeant,  Aug.  15.  3d 
Sergeant,  Oct.  10.  ist  Sergeant,  Dec.  14.  2d  Lieutenant,  Dec.  24.  Wounded  at 
Gettysburg,  July  I,  1863.  Returned  Aug.  22.  ist  Lieutenant,  Feb.  i,  1864,  to  rank 
from  Jan.  19.  Transferred  to  A.  Wounded  at  Spottsylvania,  May  14,  1864.  Returned 
June  3.  Wounded  before  Petersburg,  June  18.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh 
Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Locust  Grove,  Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  Salient 
at  Spottsylvania,  Bethesda  Church  (field  of  Cold  Harbor),  and  Petersburg.  On  Mud 
March,  Port  Roval  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions,  Campaign  of  Maneuvers,  Mine 
Run  and  Reconnoissance  to  Raccoon  Ford.  Left  hospital  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  July  u, 
1864,  and  dismissed  the  service  by  order,  Oct.  14,  1864. 

WILLIAM  B.  HUTCHINSON.  5th  Sergeant  in  F,  July  24,  1862.  In  Ambulance 
Corps,  Oct.  12.  On  furlough  and  Recruiting  Service  in  Michigan,  from  March  21  to 
April,  1863;  also,  from  Jan.  4  to  April  25,  1864.  ist  Lieutenant  of  C,  April  28,  to  rank 
from  April  15.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville, 
Gettysburg,  Locust  Grove  and  Wilderness.  On  Mud  March,  Westmoreland 
Expedition,  Campaign  of  Maneuvers,  Mine  Run  and  Reconnoissance  to  Raccoon  Ford. 
Killed  in  Wilderness,  May  6,  1864. 

GEORGE  W.  CHILSON.  yth  Corporal  in  F,  July  30,  1862.  Wounded  and  paroled 
prisoner  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  Returned  Oct.  13.  Acting  Brigade  Hospital 
Steward  during  early  months  of  1864.  4th  Sergeant,  May  i,  1864.  On  Leave  of 
Absence  from  June  20  to  Aug.  14.  ist  Lieutenant  of  D,  Aug.  15,  1864,  to  rank  from 
May  6.  In  Ambulance  Corps  from  Aug.  16  to  September.  Acting  Regimental 
Quartermaster  from  Oct.  3,  1864,  to  Jan.  8,  1865.  Acting  Adjutant  from  Jan.  8  to  Feb. 
i,  1865.  Acting  Aide  in  3d  Brigade,  3d  Division,  5th  Corps,  Feb.  5,  1865.  Returned 
to  Regiment  at  Springfield,  111.  Acting  Adjutant  from  March  30  to  April  5,  1865.  On 
General  Court  Martial  at  Springfield,  111,  from  April  2410  June  17,  1865  — In  battles  of 
Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Locust  Grove, 
Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  Salient  at  Spottsylvania,  Jericho  Ford,  North  Anna, 
Tolopotomoy,  Bethesda  Church  (field  of  Cold  Harbor),  Petersburg,  Siege  of  Petersburg 
and  Dabney's  Mill.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions, 
Campaign  of  Maneuvers  and  Mine  Run.* 


366  HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

ALONZO  EATON.  Enlisted  in  E,  Aug.  n,  and  became  Quartermaster  Sergeant 
Aug.  12,  1862.  On  Recruiting  Service  in  Michigan,  March  20,  1864.  1st  Lieutenant 
of  B,  July  17,  1864,  to  rank  from  June  9.  Captured  at  Weldon  Railroad  battle,  Aug. 
19,  1864.  Prisoner  of  war  in  Libby,  Salisbury,  N.  C.,  and  near  Columbia,  S.  C.,  until 
Feb.  22,  1865.  Returned  to  Regiment  May  I,  1865.* 

ALBERT  WILFORD.  Enlisted  in  G,  Aug.  12,  1862.  ist  Corporal,  May  29,  1863. 
On  furlough  and  Recruiting  Service  in  Michigan,  from  Dec.  15,  1863,  to  May  i,  1864. 
ist  Lieutentant  of  C,  Aug.  15,  1864,  to  rank  from  July  19.  In  command  of  H  from 
Oct.  II  to  Dec.  5,  1864.  Returned  to  duty  in  C.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg, 
Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Locust  Grove,  Wilderness,  Laurel 
Hill,  Salient  at  Spottsylvania,  Jericho  Ford,  North  Anna,  Tolopotomoy,  Bethesda 
Church,  (field  of  Cold  Harbor),  Petersburg,  Siege  of  Petersburg,  Weldon  Railroad 
and  Hatcher's  Run.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions, 
Campaign  of  Maneuvers,  and  Mine  Run  ;  Reconnoissances  to  Yellow  Tavern,  Vaughn 
Road,  and  Haid  to  Meherrin  River.* 

EDGAR  A.  KIMMEL  (Recruit),  ist  Lieutenant  in  K,  Oct.  6,  1864,  to  rank  from 
Sept.  27.  In  command  of  I,  from  Oct.  15  to  Dec.  15.  Transferred  to  I,  Feb.  i,  1865, 
and  in  command  until  return  of  Capt.  Gordon  in  May.  In  battles  of  Hatcher's  Run 
and  Dabney's  Mill.  On  Raid  to  Meherrin  River.* 

SHEPHERD  L.  HOWARD.  Enlisted  in  D,  Aug.  12,  1862.  6th  Corporal,  Nov.  25. 
2d  Sergeant,  June  25,  1863.  ist  Sergeant,  Oct.  7.  On  Recruiting  Service  in  Michigan 
from  March  21  to  May  i,  1864.  Ist  Lieutenant,  Dec.  3,  1864,  to  rank  from  Oct.  4. 
Transferred  to  K,  Feb.  i,  1865.  Wounded  at  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  April  29,  1863,  and 
and  at  Laurel  Hill,  May  12,  1864.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing, 
(field  of  Chancellorsville),  Locust  Grove,  Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  (field  of  Spottsyl 
vania),  Siege  of  Petersburg  and  Dabney's  Mill.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal 
Expedition,  Campaign  of  Maneuvers  and  Mine  Run,  and  Raid  to  Meherrin  River.* 

SAMUEL  W.  CHURCH.     6th  Corporal  in  B,  July  24,  1862.     4th  Sergeant,  Nov.  18, 

1863.  ist    Sergeant,    May    2,    1864.     Acting    Sergeant    Major,    July    25,    1864.       ist 
Lieutenant  in  E,  Nov.  17,  1864,  to  rank  from  Oct.  14.    In  command  of  B,  from  Dec.  31, 

1864,  to   March   14,  1865;  of  E,  from  March  14  to  June  10.     On  General  Court  Martial, 
at  Springfield,  111.,  from  June  14  to   17,  1865.     In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh 
Crossing,    Chancellorsville,     Gettysburg,     Locust    Grove,     Wilderness,     Laurel    Hill, 
Salient   at   Spottsylvania,    Jericho    Ford   and    North    Anna,    Tolopotomoy,    Bethesda 
Church,  (field  of  Cold  Harbor),    Petersburg,   Siege  of  Petersburg,  Weldon   Railroad, 
Hatcher's  Run  and   Dabney's  Mill.     On   Mud   March,  Port  Royal  and   Westmoreland 
Expeditions,  Campaign  of  Maneuvers,  Mine  Run  ;  Reconnoissances  to  Raccoon  Ford, 
Yellow  Tavern  and  Vaughn  Road,  and  Raid  to   Meherrin  River.* 

AUGUSTUS  F.  ZIEGLER.  2d  Corporal  in  A,  Aug.  4,  1862.  5th  Sergeant,  Jan.  24, 
1863.  Ordnance  Sergeant  from  Aug.  16,  1863,  to  Jan.  22,  1864.  Sergeant  Major, 
Oct.  7,  1863.  ist  Lieutenant  of  F,  Jan.  7,  1865,  to  rank  from  Oct.  14,  1864.  Acting 
Adjutant,  March  23  to  30,  1865.  In  command  of  Company  U  (unorganized  Recruits), 
April  21,  1865.  Wounded  and  prisoner  in  Wilderness,  May  6,  1864.  Returned  Oct.  13. 
Wounded  at  Dabney's  Mill,  Feb.  6,  1865.  Returned  to  Regiment  March  17.  In 
battles  of  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Locust  Grove,  Wilderness, 
Hatcher's  Run  and  Dabney's  Mill.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland 
Expeditions,  Campaign  of  Maneuvers  and  Mine  Run,  Siege  of  Petersburg,  Reconnois- 
sance  to  Raccoon  Ford,  and  Raid  to  Meherrin  River.* 


ROSTER   OF   THE  OFFICERS.  367 

ELMER  D.  WALLACE.     Enlisted  in  H,  July  25,  1862.     Hospital  Steward,  Aug.  28, 

1862.  ist  Lieutenant  of  B,  Nov.  17,  1864,  to  rank  from  Oct.  17.     In  command  of  A, 
from  Dec.  15,  1864,  to  May  30,  1865.     On  Leave  of  Absence  from  Feb.  4  to  March  27, 
1865.     On  Raid  to  Meherrin  River.* 

FERDINAND  E.   WELTON.     Enlisted  in  H,  Aug.  18,   1862.     3d  Corporal,  Feb.  16, 

1863.  5th  Sergeant,   Aug.    i.      ist    Sergeant,    May  2,    1864.     On   detached    service  to 
Grand  Rapids  and  Jackson,   Mich.,  Feb.  5,    1864.     Wounded   at  Gettysburg,  July   i, 
1863,  and  at  Petersburg,  June  18,  1864       ist  Lieutenant,  March  20,  1865,  to  rank  from 
Jan.  21.    In  command  of  H,  from  April  5  to  May  18,  1865.     To  duty  in  G.     In  battles 
of  Fredericksburg,    Fitzhugh   Crossing,    Chancellorsville,   Gettysburg,    Locust  Grove, 
Wilderness,   Laurel    Hill,  Salient  at   Spottsylvania,    Jericho    Ford    and    North  Anna, 
Tolopotomoy,   Bethesda  Church   (field  of  Cold  Harbor),   Petersburg,  Siege  of  Peters 
burg,  Weldon    Railroad,   Hatcher's  Run  and  Dabney's  Mill.     On  Mud  March,   Port 
Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions,  Campaign  of  Maneuvers,  Mine  Run  ;   Recon- 
noissances  to  Yellow  Tavern,  Vaughn  Road,  and  Raid  to  Meherrin  River.* 

SECOND  LIEUTENANTS. 

CHARLES  C.  YEMANS.  2d  Lieutenant  of  D,  July  26,  1862.  Acting  Adjutant,  Dec.  13 
and  14,  1862,  on  field  of  Fredericksburg,  Acting  Aide  on  Gen.  Meredith's  Staff,  Iron 
Brigade,  from  Jan.  17,  1863.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing, 
Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg.  On  Burnside's  Mud  March.  Resigned  for 
disability,  Sept.  i,  1863. 

JACOB  M.  HOWARD,  JR.  2d  Lieutenant  of  F,  July  26,  1862.  Aide  on  Gen. 
Meredith's  Staff,  Iron  Brigade,  Dec.  4,  1862.  Aide  to  Gen.  Hartsuff,  Jan.  2,  1863.  In 
battle  of  Fredericksburg.  Resigned  Aug.  15,  1863,  for  promotion  to  Captain  and 
Aide,  U.  S.  Vols.  Brevet  Major  and  Lieut. -Colonel,  Aug.  n,  1865,  "for  faithful  and 
meritorious  services  during  the  war." 

JOHN  M.  GORDON.  2d  Lieutenant  of  I,  July  26,  1862.  Honorably  discharged 
on  tender  of  resignation,  Dec.  28,  1862. 

DAVID  BIRRELL.  2d  Lieutenant  of  K,  July  26,  1862.  Killed  in  battle  of 
Fredericksburg,  Dec.  13,  1862. 

REUBEN  H.  HUMPHREY VILLE.  Enlisted  in  K,  Aug.  12,  1862.  2d  Sergeant, 
Aug.  15.  2d  Lieutenant,  Jan.  10,  1863,  to  rank  from  Dec.  14.  In  battles  of 
Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg.  On  Mud 
March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions.  Killed  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863. 

Lucius  L.  SHATTUCK.  2d  Sergeant  of  C,  Aug.  5,  1862.  ist  Sergeant,  Dec.  22. 
Sergeant  Major,  Jan.  I,  1863.  Commissary  Sergeant,  Jan.  27.  2d  Lieutenant, 
April  5,  to  rank  from  March  5.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing, 
Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland 
Expeditions.  Killed  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863. 

WM.  T.  WHEELER,  ist  Sergent  of  I,  July  29,  1862.  2d  Lieutenant,  March  i, 
1863.  In  battle  of  Fredericksburg.  On  Mud  March  and  Port  Royal  Expeditions. 
Dismissed  the  service  by  order,  May  26,  1863.  (Had  been  Corporal  in  ist  Michigan, 
3  mo.,  Inf.,  and  2d  Lieutenant  in  8th  Michigan  Infantry.  Resigned  April  2,  1862.) 

GILBERT  A.  DICKEY.  Enlisted  in  E,  Aug.  n,  1862.  Commissary  Sergeant, 
Aug.  15.  Sergeant  Major,  Jan.  27,  1863.  2d  Lieutenant  of  G,  April  17,  to  rank  from 
March  10.  In  battles  of  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg.  On 
Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions.  Killed  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863. 


368  HISTORY  OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

ANDREW  J.  BUCKLIN  (Recruit).  Enlisted  in  F,  Dec.  27,  1863.  Transferred  to 
E,  Nov.  26,  1864.  ist  Sergeant,  Nov.  29.  2d  Lieutenant  of  G,  Jan.  27,  1865,  to  rank 
from  Sept.  27,  1864.  In  battles  of  Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  Salient  at  Spottsylvania, 
Jericho  Ford  and  North  Anna,  Tolopotomoy,  Bethesda  Church  (field  of  Cold  Harbor), 
Petersburg,  Siege  of  Petersburg,  Hatcher's  Run  and  Dabney's  Mill.  On  Reconnoissance 
to  Raccoon  Ford,  and  Raid  to  Meherrin  River.  Wounded  at  Petersburg,  June  18, 
1864.  Returned  October  16.  Honorably  discharged  on  tender  of  resignation,  May  3, 
1865. 

CHARLES  H.  CHOPE.  5th  Sergeant  in  G,  July  23,  1862.  ist  Sergeant,  Oct.  i,  1864. 
2d  Lieutenant  of  B,  April  12,  1865,  to  rank  from  March  21.  In  battles  of 
Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Locust  Grove, 
Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  Salient  at  Spottsylvania,  Jericho  Ford  and  North  Anna, 
Tolopotomoy,  Bethesda  Church  (field  of  Cold  Harbor),  Petersburg,  Siege  of  Petersburg, 
Weldon  Railroad,  Hatcher's  Run  and  Dabney's  Mill.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and 
Westmoreland  Expeditions,  Campaign  of  Maneuvers,  Mine  Run,  Reconnoissances  to 
Raccoon  Ford,  Yellow  Tavern,  Vaughn  Road  and  Raid  to  Merherrin  River.  Wounded 
in  rifle  pits  before  Petersburg,  June  21,  1864.* 

AUGUSTUS  POMEROY.  3d  Sergeant  in  C,  Aug.  8,  1862.  ist  Sergeant,  Nov.  i, 
1863.  On  Recruiting  Service  in  Michigan  from  March  21  to  Sept.  5,  1864.  2d 
Lieutenant,  April  20,  1865,  to  rank  from  March  21.  Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July  I, 
1863,  and  at  Dabney's  Mill,  Feb.  7,  1865.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh 
Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Locust  Grove,  Siege  of  Petersburg,  Hatcher's 
Run  and  Dabney's  Mill.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions, 
Campaign  of  Maneuvers,  Mine  Run,  Reconnoissances  to  Raccoon  Ford,  Vaughn  Road 
and  Raid  to  Meherrin  River.* 

GEORGE  DINGWALL.  Enlisted  in  A,  Aug.  n,  1862.  ist  Corporal,  Jan.  23,  1863. 
3d  Sergeant,  April  23.  ist  Sergeant,  Nov.  8.  On  Recruiting  Service  in  Michigan 
from  March  20  to  May  i,  1864.  Wounded  and  captured  at  Wilderness,  May  5,  1864. 
Taken  to  Andersonville,  Ga.  Released  Dec.  25,  1864.  Returned  to  Regiment  April 
13,  1865. — 2d  Lieutenant,  April  25,  1865,  to  rank  from  March  30.  In  battles  of 
Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburgh,  Locust  Grove  and 
Wilderness.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions,  Campaign 
of  Maneuvers,  Mine  Run  and  Reconnoissance  to  Raccoon  Ford.* 

CHARES  A.  KING.  Enlisted  in  D,  July  24,  1862.  4th  Sergeant,  Aug.  8. 
Prisoner  at  Gettysburg,  July  I,  1863.  Taken  to  Richmond.  Reached  Annapolis 
Parole  Camp,  Aug.  2,  and  Regiment  Oct.  6.  Clerk  at  Iron  Brigade  Headquarters 
from  Nov.  18,  1863,  to  March,  1864.  In  Iron  Brigade  Commissary  Department  from 
May  15,  1864,  to  Feb.  n,  1865.  2d  Lieutenant,  April  25,  1865,  to  rank  from  March  31. 
In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg. 
On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions,  and  Campaign  of 
Maneuvers.* 

JAMES  D.  SHEARER.  Enlisted  in  F,  Aug.  6.  1862.  ist  Corporal,  Sept.  29.  2d 
Sergeant,  Nov.  I.  ist  Sergeant,  July  17,  1864.  2d  Lieutenant,  April  25,  1865,  to  rank 
from  March  31.  Wounded  at  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  April  29,  1863,  and  at  Gettysburg, 
July  i,  1863.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville, 
Gettysburg,  Locust  Grove,  Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  Salient  at  Spottsylvania,  Jericho 
Ford  and  North  Anna,  Tolopotomoy,  Bethesda  Church,  (field  of  Cold  Harbor) 
Petersburg,  Siege  of  Petersburg,  Weldon  Railroad,  Hatcher's  Run  and  Dabney's  Mill 
On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions,  Campaign  of  Maneuvers, 


ROSTER   OF   THE   OFFICERS. 

Mine  Run  ;  Reconnoissances  to  Raccoon  Ford,  Yellow  Tavern,  Vaughn  Road  and 
Raid  to  Meherrin  River.* 

IRA  W.  FLETCHER.  Enlisted  in  K,  July  31,  1862.  ist  Corporal,  Aug.  15.  5th 
Sergeant,  Dec.  13.  Prisoner  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863.  Taken  to  Richmond. 
Paroled  Sept.  23.  Returned  to  Regiment  June  6,  1864.  ist  Sergeant,  Nov.  i,  1864. 
Sergeant  Major,  Jan.  7,  1865.  2d  Lieutenant  of  K,  April  21,  1865,  to  rank  from 
March  30.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville, 
Gettysburg,  Petersburg,  Siege  of  Petersburg,  Weldon  Railroad,  Hatcher's  Run  and 
Dabney's  Mill.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions; 
Reconnoissances  to  Yellow  Tavern,  Vaughn  Road,  and  Raid  to  Meherrin  River. 
Acting  Adjutant  from  March  to  May  17,  1865.* 

E.  BEN  FISCHER.  3d  Sergeant  in  D,  Aug.  12,  1862.  Clerk  to  Division  Court 
Martial  in  fall  of  1862.  Prisoner  at  Gettysburg,  July  I,  1863,  and  paroled.  Returned 
to  duty  Aug.  20.  2d  Sergeant,  Oct.  7.  Prisoner  at  Wilderness,  May  6,  1864. 
Escaped  Feb.  18,  1865.  Returned  to  Regiment  in  April.  2d  Lieutenant  of  E,  May  26, 
to  rank  from  April  25,  1865.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing, 
Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Locust  Grove  and  Wilderness.  On  Mud  March,  Port 
Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions,  Campaign  of  Maneuvers,  Mine  Run,  and 
Reconnoissance  to  Raccoon  Ford.* 

AUGUSTUS  HUSSEY.  8th  Corporal  in  H,  Aug.  8,  1862.  3d  Sergeant,  Aug.  i, 
1863.  Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July  3,  1863.  Prisoner  at  Wilderness,  May  5,  1864. 
Taken  to  Andersonville.  Released  Nov.  30.  Returned  to  Regiment  April  g,  1865. 
2d  Lieutenant  of  G,  May  24,  to  rank  from  April  25.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg, 
Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Locust  Grove  and  Wilderness.  On 
Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions,  Campaign  of  Maneuvers 
and  Mine  Run,  and  Reconnoissance  to  Raccoon  Ford.* 

HUGH  F.  VANDERLIP.  Enlisted  in  A,  Aug.  n,  1862.  ist  Corporal,  Nov.  13. 
4th  Sergeant,  Jan.  23,  1863.  Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863.  Returned  Dec.  7. 
In  Ambulance  Corps  from  March  3,  1864,  to  Feb.  12,  1865.  ist  Sergeant,  April  i,  1865. 
2d  Lieutenant  of  H,  May  27,  to  rank  from  April  20.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg, 
Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg.  On  Mud  March,  1'ort  Royal  and 
Westmoreland  Expeditions.* 

WILLIAM  M.  McNoAH.  2d  Corporal  in  G,  Aug.  7,  1862.  Sergeant,  July  i,  1864. 
ist  Sergeant,  April  n,  1865.  2d  Lieutenant  of  I,  May  i — not  mustered.  In  battles 
of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Locust  Grove, 
Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  Salient  at  Spottsylvania,  Jericho  Ford  and  North  Anna, 
Tolopotomoy,  Bethesda  Church  (field  of  Cold  Harbor),  Petersburg,  Siege  of 
Petersburg,  Weldon  Railroad,  Hatcher's  Run  and  Dabney's  Mill.  On  Mud  March, 
Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions,  Campaign  of  Maneuvers,  Mine  Run, 
Reconnoissances  to  Raccoon  Ford,  Yellow  Tavern,  Vaughn  Road  and  Raid  to 
Meherrin  River.* 

NON-COMMISSIONED   STAFF. 

EDWARD  B.  CHOPE.  Enlisted  in  B,  Aug.  8,  1862.  ist  Corporal,  Jan.  i,  1863. 
Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July  I,  1863.  Returned  to  Regiment  April  10,  1864. 
Wounded  in  Wilderness,  May  5,  1864.  In  Iron  Brigade  Commissary  Department 
from  July  4  to  Oct  3,  1864.  Sergeant,  Oct.  25.  ist  Sergeant,  Nov.  17.  On  Recruiting 
Service  in  Michigan,  March  13,  1865.  Sergeant  Major,  (N.  C.  S.),  April  n,  1865.  In 

(26) 


370  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Wilderness, 
Siege  of  Petersburg,  Hatcher's  Run  and  Dabney's  Mill.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal 
and  Westmoreland  Expeditions,  Reconnoissances  to  Vaughn  Road  and  Raid  to 
Meherrin  River.* 

SULLIVAN  D.  GREEN.  Enlisted  in  F,  Aug.  13,  1862.  Acting  Sergeant  Major 
(N.  C.  S.),  July  3  to  Aug.  27,  1863.  Clerk  in  Iron  Brigade  Quartermaster's 
Department,  Aug.  27,  1863.  Regimental  Quartermaster's  Sergeant  (N.  C.  S.),  July  17, 
1864.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions,  Campaign  of 
Maneuvers  and  Siege  of  Petersburg.  In  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing, 
Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg.  Correspondent  of  Detroit  Free  Press  known  as  S.  D. 
G.,  during  his  term  of  service.* 

FRANCIS  RAYMOND,  jr.  Enlisted  in  D,  July  24,  1862.  2d  Sergeant,  Aug.  13. 
Commissary  Sergeant,  (N.  C.  S.),  April  i,  1863.  Resigned  April  22,  1864,  for 
promotion  to  ist  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant  in  ist  Michigan  Infantry.  In  battle  of 
Fredericksburg  and  on  Mud  March  while  with  the  Regiment.  In  other  engagements 
and  wounded  after  he  left  the  24th  Michigan. 

CHARLES  H.  McCoNNELL.  Enlisted  in  B,  July  24,  1862.  4th  Corporal,  Aug.  15. 
5th  Sergeant  and  Color  Sergeant,  Sept.  I,  1863.  On  Recruiting  Service  in  Michigan 
from  March  21  to  May  i,  1864.  Commissary  Sergeant  (N.  C.  S.),  April  22,  1864.  In 
battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg  and  Locust 
Grove.  On  Mud  March,  Port  Royal  and  Westmoreland  Expeditions,  Campaign  of 
Maneuvers,  Mine  Run  and  Reconnoissance  to  Racoon  Ford.* 

OWEN  CHURCHILL  (Recruit).  Enlisted  for  one  year  in,  C,  Aug.  16,  1864. 
Hospital  Steward  (N.  C.  S.),  Nov.  18,  1864.* 

JAMES  F.  RAYMOND.  Enlisted  in  H,  Aug.  13,  1862.  Principal  Musician  (N.  C. 
S.),  November,  1862.  Discharged  Jan.  30,  1863,  for  promotion  in  a  New  York 
regiment. 

DEMAIN  WHEELHOUSE.  Enlisted  in  E,  Aug.  13,  1862.  Principal  Musician  (N.  C. 
S.),  Feb.  13,  1863.  Died  of  pneumonia  at  Rappahannock  Station,  Va.,  Nov.  30,  1863. 

ARTHUR  S.  CONGDON.  Enlisted  in  E,  Aug.  13,  1862.  Principal  Musician,  (N. 
C.  S.),  Sept.  i,  1863.* 

EDWIN  COTTON.  Enlisted  in  H,  Aug.  13,  1862.  Principal  Musician,  (N.  C.  S.), 
March  i,  1864.* 

DAVID  B.  NICHOLS.  Drum  Major  (N.  C.  S.),  Aug.  15,  1862.  Discharged  by 
order  of  General  Gibbon,  Nov.  3,  1862. 

CHARLES  M.  PHILLIPS.  Fife  Major  (N.  C.  S.),  Aug.  25,  1862.  Discharged  by 
order  of  General  Gibbon,  Nov.  3,  1862. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 


THE  DEAD  OF 
THE  TWENTY-FOURTH  MICHIGAN. 


"  Nor  shall  their  glory  be  forgot,  while  fame  her  record  keeps, 

Or  honor  points  the  hallowed  spot,  where  valor  proudly  sleeps, 

Nor  wreck,  nor  change,  nor  winter's  blight,  nor  time's  remorseless  doom, 

Can  dim  one  ray  of  holy  light  that  gilds  their  glorious  tomb." 

KILLED    ON   THE   BATTLEFIELD. 

Capt.  WILLIAM  J.  SPEED  of  D,   at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863;  age  31. 

"     MALACHI  J.  O'DONNELL  of  E,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863;  age  24. 

"     GEORGE  HUTTON  of  E,  at  Wilderness,  May  5,  1864;  age  36. 
Adjt.  SIREL  CHILSON  (Staff),  at  Petersburg,  June  18,  1864;  age  21. 
ist  Lt.  WALTER  H.  WALLACE  of  K,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863;  age  23. 

"     WINFIELD  S.  SAFFORD  of  C,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  22. 

"     NEWELL  GRACE  of  H,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863;  age  36. 

"     WM.  B.  HUTCHINSON  of  C,  at  Wilderness,  May  6,  1864  ;  age  23. 
ad  Lt.  DAVID  BURRILL  of  K,  at  Fredericksburg,  Dec.  13,  1862  ;  age  25, 

"     R.  H.  HUMPHREYVILLE  of  K,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863;  age  30. 

"     Lucius  L.  SHATTUCK  of  C,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  26. 

"     GILBERT  A.  DICKEY  of  G,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  20. 

Company  A. — Corp.  Joseph  Carroll,  at  Gettysburg  ;    age  22. 
Corp.  William  Ziegler  (  Color  Guard)  at  Gettysburg ;  age  24. 
Garrett  Chase,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  28. 
John  Dingwall,   at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  21. 
Augustus  Jencks,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  41. 
Michael  Tiernay,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  24. 

William  Dusick,   at  Bethesda  Church,   Va.,   June  3,    1864  ;    age  22.     Wounded  also,   at 
Gettysburg. 

Company  B. — Sergt.    Asa  W.    Brindle,   at  Fitzhugh   Crossing,    April   30,    1863  ;    age  23. 

Killed  by  solid  shot  passing  from  his  head  to  his  thigh, 
ist  Sergt.  Andrew  J.  Price,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  26. 
Sergt.  George  Cline,  at  Gettysburg,  July  I,  1863  ;  age  30. 
Corp.  William  Carroll,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i.  1863  ;  age  25. 
Corp.  John  H.  Pardington,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  24. 
Private  Mathew  Duncan,  at  Gettysburg,  July  I,  1863  ;  age  31. 
Sergt.  Arthur  G.  Lynch,  at  Spottsylvania,  May  17,  1864  ;    age  19  (in  Battery). 
Corp.  Anton  Krapohl,  at  Wilderness,  May  5,  1864  ;  age  29.     Wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

(37i) 


372  HISTORY  OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Samuel  Davis,  on  Vidette  Post,  Va.,  Dec.  6,  1864  ;  age  20. 

David  Reed,  at  Fredericksburg,  Dec.  13,  1862  ;  age  20. 

Elisha  Wheeler,  at  North  Anna,  May  23,  1864;  age  32.     Wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

William  Lawrence  (R),*  at  Laurel  Hill,  May  12,  1864;  age  18. 

Company  C. — Color  Sergt.   Abel  G.   Peck,   at  Gettysburg,  July    i,    1863  ;    age  43.     First 

,  Color  Bearer  in  the  regiment. 
Sergt.  Charles  Pinkerton,  at  Wilderness,  May  5,  1864  ;  age  24.      Killed  on  skirmish   line 

by  accidental  shot  of  one  of  his  regiment. 
Corp.  Otis  Southworth,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;    age  29. 
George  L.  Cogswell,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  25. 
Oliver  C.  Kelley,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863;  age  21. 
John  E.  Ryder,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863;  age  20. 
Forest  C.  Brown,  at  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  April  29,  1863  ;  age  26. 
James  McKee,  at  Wilderness,  May  5,  1864  ;  age  26.     Wounded  at  Fitzhugh. 

Company  D. — Corporal  William  Funke,  at  Bethesda  Church,  May  30,  1864  ;  age  20.     In 

Battery.     Leg  amputated.     Died  in  ambulance. 
Sergt.  Joseph  Eberly,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  25. 
Corp.  David  E.  Rounds,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863;  age  22. 
Corp.  James  Sterling,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  24. 
John   Dwyer.  at  Gettysburg,  July  I,  1863  ;  age  18. 
John  Groth,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;    age  19. 
William  H.  Houston,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  aged  20. 
Corp.  Michael  O'Brien  at  Laurel  Hill,  May  12,  1864  ;  age  25. 
Corp.  Albert  A.  Wallace,  at  Laurel  Hill,  May  12,  1864  ;  age  21. 
Reuben  Cory,  at  Laurel  Hill,  May  10,  1864  ;  age  27. 
Lorenz  Raiser,  at  Laurel  Hill,  May  12,  1864  ;  age  20. 
Horace  Rofe,  at  Laurel  Hill,  May  10,  1864  ;  age  23. 
Richard  Downing,  at  Petersburg,  June  18,  1864  ;  age  37.     Body  not  found  until  July  22. 

Wounded  also,  at  Fitzhugh  Crossing. 
Theodore  Palmer,   at  Wilderness,  May   5,  1864  '>  age  27- 
Company   E. —  Sergt.    William    Floyd,    at    Laurel    Hill,    Va.,    May    12,    1864;    age    28. 

Wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Corp.  Charles  Bellore,  at  Gettysburg,  while  carrying  the  flag  ;   age  32. 
William  Kelley,  at  Gettysburg,  while  carrying  the  flag  ;  age  23. 
James  Doyle,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  23. 
Thomas  S.  Orton,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  27. 
Patrick  J.  Kinney,  at  Laurel  Hill,   May    12,    1864  ;  age  32.     Wounded   and  prisoner  at 

Gettysburg. 

Company  F. — Frederick  Chavey,  at  Laurel  Hill,  May  13,    1864  ;  age  27.     Struck  by  solid 

shot,  his  blood  bespattering  Major  Edwards, 
ist  Sergt.  Charles  Bucklin,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  31. 
Corp.  Iltid  W.  Evans,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863;  age  19. 
William  S.  Bronson,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  43. 
James  Hubbard,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  33. 

Sergt.  Erastus  W.  Hine,  at  Wilderness  ;  age  27,     Wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
John  Stoffold,  at  Wilderness  ;  age  20.     Wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
George  F.  Neef,  at  Laurel  Hill  ;  age  36.     Wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

*  Recruit. 


THE   DEAD   OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN.  373 

Sergt.  Oren  S.  Stoddard,  at  Wilderness  May  5,  1864  ;  age  28. 
Joseph  Coryell,  at  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  April  29,  1863,  age  32. 
Corp.  Timothy  O.  Webster,  at  Petersburg,  June  18,  1864  ;  age  23. 
John  B.  Beyette  (R.),  at  Petersburg,  June  18,  1864  ;  age  27. 
John  B.  Cicotte,  at  Petersburg,  June  18,  1864 ;  age  35. 

Company  G.—  Corp.  John  W.  Welsh,   at  Gettysburg;    age   22.      Killed  while  assisting  a 

comrade  off  the  field.     Both  killed. 

Sergt.  George  O.  Colburn,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  30. 
Sergt.  William  H.  Luce,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  24. 
Corp.  Jerome  P.  Fayles,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  20. 
Ernest  F.  Argelbeim,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  19. 
Elias  B.  Browning,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  19. 
George  A.  Codwise,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  26. 
Charles  Coombs,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  22. 
Patrick  Hefferman,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  34. 
John  Martin,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  25. 
Sergt.  George  H.  Pettinger,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  28. 
John  Shoane,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  23. 
Albert  Wassow,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  19. 
Sergt.  William  Maiers,  at  Petersburg,  June  18,  1864  ;  age  28. 
Corp.  Orville  C.  Simonson,  at  Petersburg,  June  18,  1864  ;  age  30. 
Sergt.  John  Tait,  at  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  April  20,  1863  ;  age  37. 
Corp.  Edward  H.  Hamer,  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  5,  1864;  age  33. 
Edwin  Delong,  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  5,  1864  ;  age  20. 
Andrew  J.  Marden,  at  Laurel  Hill,  Va.,  May  10,  1864;  age  31. 
Charles  A.  Wilson,  at  Laurel  Hill,  Va.,  May  10,  1864;  age   18. 
William  Scerle,  at  Bethesda  Church,  June  3,  1864  ;  age  20. 
John  Henderson  (R.),  Dabney's  Mill,  February  7,  1865  ;  age  24. 

Company  H.— Edward  B.  Harrison,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  21.  Had  been 
sentenced  "capitally"  for  straggling.  Pardoned  July  16  by  the  President,  two 
weeks  after  he  was  killed  in  battle.  Killed  while  wounded  and  being  helped 
from  the  field.  His  assistant  also  killed. 

Sergt.  John  Powell,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  27. 

Robert  R.  Herman,  M.D.,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  46. 

Gilbert  Dubuc,  at  Wilderness,  May  5,  1864  ;  age  26. 

George  Teufil,  at  Wilderness,  May  5,  1864;  age  21. 

Jacob  Eisele,  at  Bethesda  Church,  June  4,  1864;  age  42. 

Company  /.— ist  Sergt.  George  H,  Canfield,  at  Dabney's  Mill,  Va.,   February  7,  1865  ; 

age  21.     Just  returned  from  furlough.     Wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Corp.  George  N.  Bentley,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863;  age  25. 
Corp.  James  B.  Myers,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  26. 
James  Mooney,  at  Gettysburg,  July  I,  1863  ;  age  19. 
Adolphus  Shephard,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  26. 
Henry  Viele,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  41. 

Louis  Hattie,  at  Fredericksburg,  December  13,  1862;  age  18.     First  man  killed. 
William  Irving,  in  battery,  at  Laurel  Hill.  May  12,  1804  ;  age  20. 
Isaac  J.  Kibbee,  at  Dabney's  Mill,  February  7,  1865  ;  age  23. 
George  Wallace  (R.),  at  Dabney's  Mill,  February  7,  1865  ;  age  18. 


374  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Company  K. — Sergt.  Wallace  W.  Wight,  at  Fredericksburg,  December  13,  1862  ;  age 

18.     A  son  of  Capt.  W.  W.  Wight. 

Corp.  Jerome  T.  Lefevre,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  25. 
Peter  Case,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  iq. 
David  F.  Delaney,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  19. 
Conrad  Gundlack,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863;  age  46. 
Lewis  Harland,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  25. 
Henry  W.  Jameson,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  21. 
Elijah  P.  Osborne,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  21. 
Andrew  Smith,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  29. 
August  Ernest,  with  flag,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  19. 
Corp.  James  T.  Rupert,  at  Laurel  Hill,  May  12,   1864;    age  32.     Leg  amputated  and 

died  on  the  field. 

Isaac  L.  Vandecar,  in  battery,  at  Laurel  Hill,  May  8,  1864  ;   age  20. 
James  R.  Ewing,  at  Fredericksburg,  December  13,  1862  ;  age  19. 
John  Litogot,  at  Fredericksburg,  December  13,  1862  ;  age  27. 
Francis  Pepin,  at  Fredericksburg,  December  13,  1862  ;  age  19. 

DIED    OF   WOUNDS    RECEIVED    IN    BATTLE. 

Company  A. — 1st  Sergt.  William  J.  Nagle,  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  November  8,  1863  ;  age 
24.  Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July  ist. 

Philip  Blissing,  with  enemy  at  Locust  Grove,  Va. ,  May  19,  1864;  age  38.  Wounded 
at  Laurel  Hill,  May  I2th. 

Stephen  Jackson  (R),  at  City  Point,  Va.,  July  6,  1864;  age  20.  Wounded  at  Bethesda 
Church,  June  3d. 

James  Malley  (R),  at  home  in  Ash,  Mich.,  June  6,  1864  ;  age  30.  Wounded  at  Wilder 
ness,  May  5th. 

Company  B. — Frank    Tscham   (R.)   at   Washington,    D.    C.,   July    16,    1864  ;    aged   32. 

Wounded  at  Bethesda  Church,  Va.,  June  3d. 
Sergt.  John  M.  Reed,  at  Washington,  D.  C.  May  17,  1864;  age  31.     Mortally  wounded 

at  Laurel  Hill,  May  I2th.     Leg  amputated.     Wounded  also  at  Gettysburg. 
Corp.  Edward  Dwyer,  at  Gettysburg,  October  i,  1863  ;  age  21.     Wounded  July  ist. 
Henry  C.  McDonald,  at  Gettysburg,  July  13,  1863  ;  age  30.     Wounded  July  ist. 
John  S.  Rider,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  24.     Arm  amputated. 
William  Williams,  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863  ;  age  31.     Leg  amputated. 

Company  C. — Corp.  John  A.  Bartlett,  at  Wilderness,  May  9,  1864,  with  the  enemy  ;  age 
27.  Wounded  May  5th.  Prisoner  at  Gettysburg.  Taken  South. 

Corp.  George  P.  Hubbell,  at  Laurel  Hill,  May  17,  1864  ;  age  22.     Wounded  May  I2th. 

Corp.  Thomas  B.  Ballou,  at  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  November  28,  1863,  while  coming  home  ; 
age  23.  Wounded  on  color  guard  at  Gettysburg,  July  ist. 

Edward  M.  Corey,  at  Gettysburg,  July  7,  1863  ;  age  38.     Wounded  July  ist. 

Lucius  W.  Chubb,  at  Philadelphia,  August  17,  1863;  age  20.  Transferred  from  Com 
pany  E,  and  wounded  July  ist,  at  Gettysburg. 

Ezra  E.  Derby,  at  City  Point,  Va.,  June  23,  1864;  age  24.  Wounded  at  Petersburg, 
June  18. 

William  McLaughlin,  at  Wilderness,  May  9,  1864,  with  the  enemy  ;  age  37.  Wounded 
May  5th. 

George  M.  Velie  (R.),  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  July  18,  1864;  age  27.  Wounded  at 
Bethesda  Church,  Va.,  June  3d. 


THE   DEAD   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN.  375 

Company  D. — Eliphalet  Carleton,  at  Philadelphia,  July  19,  1863  ;  age  20.  Wounded  at 
Gettysburg,  July  ist. 

Mason  Palmer,  at  Gettysburg,  July  23,  1863  ;  age  23.  Wounded  July  ist.  Arm 
amputated.  Death  hastened  by  his  jumping  out  of  a  window  in  delirium. 

Charles  Ruff,  at  Gettysburg,  July  22,  1863  ;  age  20.     Wounded  July  ist. 

Company  E. — Henry  Aldridge  (R.),  at  City  Point,  Va.,  February  22,  1865  ;  age  29. 
Wounded  at  Dabney's  Mill,  February  7,  1865. 

Corp.  John  Walls,  at  Gettysburg,  July  5,  1863  ;  age  43.     Wounded  July  ist. 

Charles  Paton,  at  Gettysburg,  July  5,  1863  ;  age  21.     Wounded  July  ist. 

Company  F. — Elisha  C.  Reed,  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  September  7,  1864  ;  age  42.  Wounded 
at  Petersburg,  June  i8th. 

John  McNish,  at  Gettysburg,  July  23,  1863  ;  age  31.     Wounded  July  ist. 

Josiah  P.  Turner,  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  September  7,  1863  ;  age  29.  Wounded  at  Gettys 
burg,  July  ist. 

Company  G. — Corp.  John  T.  Paris,  at  Washington,   May   19,  1864  ;  age  23.     Wounded 

May  loth,  on  color  guard.     Leg  amputated. 
Corp.  Charles  Suggett,  at  Gettysburg,  August  2,  1863;    age  21.     Wounded  on  color 

guard,  July  ist. 
Henry  Crothine,  at  Fort  Schuyler,  N.  Y.,  July  23,  1863  ;  age  24.     Wounded  July  ist,  at 

Gettysburg. 
William  H.  Jamieson,  at  Fitzhugh  hospital,  May  25,  1863  ;  age  24.     Wounded  at  Fitz- 

hugh  Crossing,  April  2gth.     Foot  amputated.     Doing  well,  but  lost  courage  and 

gave  up  to  "  home  sickness." 

Company  H. — Corp.    Charles    E.    Crarey,    at    Philadelphia,   August    3,    1863  ;    age    24. 

Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July  ist. 
Myron  Demary,  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  Dec   9,  1863  ;  age  19.     Wounded  at  Gettysburg, 

July  i. 
Henry  McNames,  (R.),  at  Wilderness,   May  5,  1864  ;   age  20.     Mortally  wounded  and 

body  supposed  to  have  been  burned  up  in  the  woods. 
Nathaniel   J.    Moon,    at   Alexandria,    Va.,    Aug.    4,    1864;    age    20.     Wounded     near 

Petersburg,  June  18. 
Edwin  J.  Ranger,  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  Feb.   22,  1865  ;  age   26.     Wounded  at   Dabney's 

Mill,  Feb.  7.     Last  man  killed  in  the  regiment. 

Company  I — Seymour   L.    Burns,   at   Wilderness,   May   5,    1864.     Wounded  and  body 

supposed  to  have  been  burned  up  in  the  woods. 
Henry  Coonrad,  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  June   13,  1864;  age  42.     Wounded  at  Laurel 

Hill,  Va.,  May  12.     Leg  amputated. 

John  Dubois,  at  Gettysburg,  Sept.  20,  1863  ;  age  28.     Wounded  July  I. 
Nelson  Harris,  at  Gettysburg,  July  5,  1863  ;  age  23.     Wounded  July  i. 
Hiram  A.  Williams,  at  Gettysburg,  July  5,  1863  ;  age  32.     Wounded  July  i. 
August  Lahser,  at  Washington,   D.  C.,  May  23,  1864;  age   18.      Wounded  at  Laurel 

Hill,  Va.,  May  12. 
John  Matrie,  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  May  23,  1864;  age  25.     Wounded  at  Laurel  Hill, 

Va.,  May  10. 
Theodore  B.   Thomas,  at  Washington,   D.  G.,  July  11,  1864;  age  50.     Wounded  at 

Petersburg,  Va.,  June  18. 

Company  K — Corp.  Evan  B.  McClure,  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  May  30,  1864;  age  25. 
Wounded  at  North  Anna,  Va.,  May  23. 


3/6  HISTORY   OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH  MICHIGAN. 

Corp.    Rufus  J.  Whipple,  at  City   Point,  Va.,   Aug.   26,    1864;  age  41.     Wounded  in 

action  on  Weldon  Railroad,  Aug.  19. 
John  H.  Fryer,  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  June  21,  1864;  age  20.     Wounded  at  Laurel  Hill, 

Va.,  May  8. 
Francis  E.  Miller,  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  May  22,  1864;  age  20.     Wounded  in  leg  and 

shoulder  in   Wilderness,   May  5.     Doing  well  until  night  of   May  9,  when,  in  a 

stampede    from    a    supposed    guerrilla    attack,    someone    trod    on     his    wounds, 

rendering  them  mortal.     Wounded  also  at  Gettysburg. 


DIED   IN   CONFEDERATE   PRISONS. 

ist  Lt.  ARA  W.  SPRAGUE,  at  Charleston,  S.  C.,  Oct.  14,  1864  ;  age  41. 

Company  A — Jonathan  D.   Chase,   at  Florence,  S.    C.,   in    December,    1864;   aged    22. 

Captured  at  Wilderness,  May  5. 
Anthony  Long,  at  Florence,  S.  C.,  in  December,  1864;  aged  25.  Captured  on 

"Brooks'  Expedition,"  June  22. 
Charles  Willaird,  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.,  Nov.  22,  1864;  aged  23.  Captured  Aug.  19, 

1864,  in  action  on  Weldon  Railroad.     Wounded  at  Fredericksburg. 

Company  B — Lewis  A.   Baldwin,   at    Andersonville,    Georgia,   Oct.    22,    1864  ;  age  33. 

Captured  at  Wilderness,  May  5. 
Peter  Viele,  (R.),  at  Libby  Prison,  Richmond,  June  21,  1864  ;  age  28.  Captured  at 

Wilderness,  May  5,  three  days  after  joining  the  regiment. 

Company  C — Corp.    John    A.    Sherwood,    at    Salisbury,    N.    C.,    Jan.   9,  1865  ;   age   33. 

Captured  at  Gettysburg  ;  also  on  Weldon  Railroad,  Aug.  19,  1864. 
Charles  R.    Dobbins,  at   Florence,   S.   C.,  in   1864;  age  20.     Captured  at  Wilderness, 

May  5. 
John  Passage,  jr.,  near  Salisbury,   N.  C.,    in    February,    1865  ;    age   29.     Wounded  at 

Laurel  Hill.     Captured  on  Weldon   Railroad,   Aug.    19,    1864.     Died  on  cars  soon 

after  leaving  the  prison. 
Alfred  C.  Willis,  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  in    1864  ;  age   20.     Wounded   at  Gettysburg. 

Prisoner  at  Wilderness,  May  5,  1864. 

Company  D. — Corp.  John  M.  Andres,  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  in  1864  ;  age  24.  Prisoner 
at  Gettysburg  ;  also  on  the  color  guard,  at  Wilderness,  May  5,  1864. 

George  H.  Lang,  at  Belle  Isle,  Dec.  16,  1863  ;  age  24.     Prisoner  at  Gettysburg. 

Andrew  Rich,  near  Fitzhugh,  Va.,  June  15,  1863  ;  age  20.  Hospital  captured  by  the 
enemy  after  our  army  left  for  Gettysburg,  June  12. 

Company   E. — Corp.     Frederick    Woods,    at    Andersonville,    Oct.     21,    1864 ;    age    20. 

Prisoner  at  North  Anna,  May  23. 
Sergt.  William   Bruskie,  at  Salisbury,   N.   C.,   Feb.    10,    1865  ;    aged   21.     Prisoner  at 

Weldon  Railroad,  Aug.  19,  1864. 
Robert  Gaunt,  at  Andersonville,  in  1864 ;  age  26.  Wounded  and  prisoner  at 

Gettysburg.     Taken  south.     Prisoner  at  North  Anna,  May  23,  1864. 
Frederick   Stotte,  at  Libby  Prison,  Jan.   29,   1864  ;    age  36.     Prisoner  at   Gettysburg, 

July  i. 

Company  F. — Corp.  Royal  L.   Potter,  at  Libby  Prison,  Jan.  8,  1863  ;  age  42.     Prisoner 

at  Fredericksburg,  Dec.  16,  1862. 
Daniel  Bourassas,  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.,  Dec.  — ,  1864;  age  31.  Prisoner  on  Weldon 

Railroad,  Aug.  19,  1864. 


THE   DEAD    OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN.  377 

Antoine  La  Blanc,  at  Libby  Prison,  Jan.  6,  1864  ;  age  35.     Prisoner  at  Gettysburg,  July 

I,  1863. 
Company  G. — George    Martin,    at    Andersonville,    Ga.,    in    November,    1864;    age    23. 

Captured  on  "  Brooks'  Expedition,"  June  22. 
Clement  Saunier  (R.),  at  Andersonville,   Ga.,   June   29,    1864;    age   27.     Captured  at 

Wilderness,  May  5. 

Company  H. — Sergt.  Richard  A.  Riley,  at   Andersonville,   Ga.,   Oct.    19,    1864  ;  age  25. 

Wounded  at  Gettysburg.     Captured  at  North  Anna,  May  23,  1864. 
Corp.   Marshall  Bills,    at   Andersonville,    Ga.,    in    1864 ;    age   21.     On   Color   Guard. 

Captured  at  North  Anna,  May  23. 
Philip    T.    Dunroe,    at    Andersonville,    Ga.,     Nov.     22,     1864  ;    age    30.     Prisoner   at 

Gettysburg.     Taken  south.     Returned  March  4,   1864.       Prisoner  at  Wilderness, 

May  5,  1864. 
Marquis  L.  Lapaugh,  at  Florence,   S.  C.,   in   1864;  aged  26.     Prisoner  at  Gettysburg. 

Taken  south.     Returned  Sept.  11,  1863.      Prisoner  at  Wilderness,  May  5,  1864. 
George  M.  Riley,  died  on  "Steamer  Geo.  Leary,"    off  Hilton    Head,    S.   C.,    Nov.    23, 

1864  ;  age  27.     Had  been  in  Andersonville.     Captured  at  Wilderness,  May  5,  1864. 
Clark  W.  Butler  (  R.),  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.,  Dec.  28,   1864  ;  age  19.     Captured  in  action 

on  Weldon  Railroad,  Aug.  19,  1864. 
Thomas  Burnett  (  R.),  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.,  Jan.  16,  1865  ;    age  38.     Captured  in  action 

on  Weldon  Railroad,  Aug.  19,  1864. 

Company  I — Sergt.    Eugene   F.   Nardin,   at  Salisbury,    N.    C.,  Dec.  31,  1864;    aged  26. 

Wounded  and  prisoner  at  Wilderness,    May   5.      Escaped  and  captured  in  action 

on  Weldon  Railroad,  Aug.  19. 
Hiram  Bentley.  at  Anderson-viHe,  Ga.,  Oct.  7,  1864  ;  age  20.     Captured  at  Wilderness, 

May  5. 
William  A.  Flynn,  at  Libby  Prison,  Richmond,    Oct.  23.    1863  ;    age   36.     Captured  at 

Gettysburg,  July  i. 
Corp.    Henry   L.    Houk,   at  Andersonville,   Ga.,   Oct.   28,  1864  ;  age  23.     Captured  in 

Wilderness,  May  5. 
James  Johnson,   (R.),    at  Andersonville,    Ga.,    Aug.    23,    1864;   age  41.     Captured  in 

Wilderness,  Va.,  May  5. 
Joseph  Peyette,  (R.),  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  in  1864  ;  age  18.     Captured  in  Wilderness, 

May  5. 

Company  K — Albert  Ganong,  at  Libby   Prison,  Va.,  Jan.  n,   1863  ;  age   18.     Captured 

at  Fredericksburg.  Dec.  16,  1862. 
Charles  S.  Hosmer,  at  Libby  Prison,  Richmond,  Nov.  19,  1863  ;  age  19.     Captured  at 

Gettysburg,  July  i. 
John  Chapman,  (R.),  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.,  Dec.  9,  1864  ;  age  19.     Captured  in  action  on 

Weldon  Railroad,  Aug.  19. 
Max   Pischa,  (R.),  at  Libby   Prison,    Richmond,   Va.,   in    1864  ;  age  43.     Captured  at 

Wilderness,  May  5. 

DIED    COMING   HOME    FROM    CONFEDERATE    PRISONS. 

Company  B — Oscar  A.  Eckliff,  at  Annapolis  Parole  Camp,  Md.,  Dec.  13,  1863  ;  age  29. 
Captured  at  Gettysburg,  July  i. 

Company  C — William  A.  Herrendeen,  at  Washington,   Feb.  6,  1865  ;  age  23.     Prisoner 
at  Gettysburg.     Wounded  at  Wilderness.     Captured  on  Weldon  Railroad,   Aug. 
19,  1864. 
(37) 


3/8  HISTORY  OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Andrew  B.  Lanning,  drowned  on  "Steamer  Gen.  Lyon,"  destroyed  by  fire  on  the 
ocean,  March  6,  1865,  while  carrying  exchanged  prisoners  to  New  York.  Captured 
in  Wilderness,  May  5,  1864,  and  taken  to  Andersonville,  Ga.,  where  he  kept  the 
burial  records  of  the  Union  dead.  His  death  with  the  loss  of  his  diary  was 
irreparable.  His  age  was  23. 

Company  E — Sergt.  John  Roache  died  coming  from  Salisbury  prison,  N.  C.,  in 
February,  1865  ;  age  21.  Captured  on  Weldon  Railroad,  Aug.  19,  1864. 

Corp.  Thomas  G.  Norton,  in  Detroit,  of  prison  mistreatment,  April  18,  1865,  just  after 
his  arrival  home ;  age  23.  Prisoner  at  Gettysburg.  Exchanged  and  again 
captured  on  Weldon  Railroad,  Aug.  19,  1864,  and  taken  to  Salisbury,  N.  C. 

Company  I — Sergt.  Emile  Mettetal,  drowned  on  "  Steamer  Gen.  Lyon,"  burned  at  sea, 

March   6,    1865  ;   age   22.     Captured   in   Wilderness,   May    5,   1864,    and    taken  to 

Andersonville,   Ga. 
Corp.  Frederic  Bosardis  died  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  March  18,  1865  ;  age  21.     Prisoner  at 

Gettysburg.     Exchanged  and  captured  again  on  the  "Brooks  Expedition,"  June 

22,  1864,  and  taken  to  Andersonville,  Ga. 
Peter  Jackson  died  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  Nov.  28,  1863  ;  age  21.     Captured  at  Gettysburg 

and  taken  to  Andersonville,  Ga. 

Company  K — John  J.  Post  died  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  Aug.  31,  1863;  age  26.  Captured 
at  Gettysburg  and  taken  south. 


DIED    OF   DISEASE    DURING   THEIR   SERVICE. 

Capt,  JOHN  C.   MERRITT,  H,  at  Georgetown,  D.  C.,  July  9,  1863  ;  age  24. 
ist  Lt.  GEORGE  H.  PINKNEY,  K,  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  Aug.  15,  1864  ;  age  31. 
Demain  Wheelhouse,  (N.  C.  S.)  at  Rap'k.  Sta.,  Nov.  30,  1863  ;  age  24. 

Company  A. — Corp.  John  Sterling,  at  Culpepper,  Va.,  March  3,  1864;  age  23. 

Christopher  Beahm,  at  Brooks'  Station,  Va.,  Dec.  19,  1862  ;  age  18. 

Charles  Quandt,  drowned  in  the  Rappahannock,  Aug.   9,   1863  ;  age  29.     Detailed  to 

Battery  B,  Feb.  9,  1863. 

Lewis  D.  Moores  (R.),  at  Culpepper,  Va.,  April  14,  1864  ;  age  18 
Peter  G.  Zoll  (R  ),  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  March  30,  1865  ;  age  45. 

Company  B. — Clark  Davis,  at  City  Point,  Va.,  June  24,   1864,  of  pneumonia  ;    age  29. 

Wounded  at  Fredericksburg. 
Henry  Wallace,  at  Philadelphia,  Oct.  14,  1864  ;  age  37.     Wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Company  C. — Sergt.  Clark  Eddy,  near  Petersburg,  Va.,  Jan.  18,  1865,  of  typhoid  fever; 

age  22.     Wounded  at  Gettysburg  and  Wilderness. 
Charles  Burr,  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  June  19,  1864  ;   age  24. 
Roswell    B.   Curtiss,   at    Harewood    Hospital,    Washington,    D.    C.,    Nov.  8,    1862,    of 

diphtheria  induced  by  rain  march  of  Oct.  26  ;  age  21. 
John  H.  James,  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  Jan.  n,  1863  ;  age  27. 
Bristol    A.    Lee,    at    Frederick    City,     Md.,    Aug.    13,    1863  ;    age    26.       Wounded    at 

Fredericksburg,  Dec.  13,  1862. 

Daniel  B.  Stevens,  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  Dec.  i,  1862  ;  age  19. 
George  W.  Soper,  at  York,  Pa.,  Nov.  27,  1862  ;  age  27. 
Andrew  E.  Mitchell  (R.),  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  April  22,  1865  ;  age  29. 
Gideon  B.  Stiles  (R.),  at  Niles,  Mich.,  Nov.  5,  1864;  age  22. 


THE   DEAD    OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN.  379 

Company  D. — Ludovico  Bowles,  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  April  i,  1865,  of  typhoid  fever; 

age  26.     Wounded  at  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  the  ball  passing  between  his   windpipe 

and  jugular  vein.     Wounded  again  at  Laurel  Hill,  Va. 
Francis  Demay,  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  April  17,  1865  ;  age  21. 
Anthony  Eberts,  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  March  19,  1865  ;  age  23.     In  Battery  B  two  years. 

Wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
John  Hamley  (Wagoner),  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  Sept.  10,  1863,   while   coming  home  on 

furlough  ;  age  37.     In  Battery  B. 
Henry  H.  Mills,  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  Dec.  12,  1863,  while  coming  home  on  furlough  ; 

age  22. 

John  Newman,  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  April  2,  1864;  age  20. 
Henry  Palmer,  at  Belle  Plain,  Va.,  March  10,  1863  ;  age  25. 
George  B.  Parsons,  in  ambulance,  D.  C.,  Sept.  8,  1862,  from  fright  induced  by  sudden 

call  to  arms  ;  age  44. 
Henry  Carpenter  ( R.),  at  Pittsburg,  Sept.  I,  1864  ;  while  en  route  to  join  the  regiment ; 

age  21. 

James  L.  Collard  ( R.)  at  Culpepper,  Va.,  April  2.  1864  ;  age  20. 
Frederick  Maths,  ( R.)  at  Culpepper,  Va.,  March   18,  1864  ;  age  22. 

Company  E. — Michael  Cavanaugh,  in  Detroit,  Aug.  28,  1862;  age  35.     Died  before  the 

regiment  left  home.     First  death. 
Martin  Devine,   at  Alexandria,   Va.,  July  28,  1863,  of  pneumonia  ;  age  42.     Wounded 

at  Gettysburg,  July  i. 
George  Curtis  (R.),  at 'Camp  Butler,  111.,  April  7,  1865  ;  age  38. 

Company  F. — Jasper  Burt,  at  Belleville,  Mich.,  Oct.  15,  1863;  age  28.     Injured  by  kick 

of  a  mule  in  the  face,  June  12.     Had  no  teeth  when  he  enlisted  and  procured  a  set 

to  pass  surgeon's  inspection. 

James  Burns,  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  March  24,  1864  ;  age  32. 
Joseph  Gohir,  at  Belle  Plain,  Va.,  Dec.  28,  1862  ;  age  19. 
Peter  P.  Rivard,  found  dead  in  his  tent  at  Culpepper,  Va.,  March  29,  1864  ;  age  24. 

Wounded  twice  at  Gettysburg.     Returned  March  22,  1864. 
James  Robertson,  in  hands  of  enemy  near  Fitzhugh's,   Va.,   July    12,  1863  ;   age  38. 

Hospital  fell  into  enemy's  hands  after  start  of  our  army  for  Gettysburg,  June  12. 
Marcus  G.  Wheeler,  at  Belle  Plain,  Va.,  Dec.  29,  1862  ;  age  18. 
Daniel  D.  Webster  (musician),  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  March  9,  1865  ;  age  21.     Prisoner 

at  Fredericksburg. 
Albert  A.  Doty  (R.),  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  March  30,  1865  ;  age  40. 

Company  G. — Arden  H.  Olmstead,  on  boat  going  from   Belle  Plain  to  Washington,  a 

few  hours  after  his  discharge,  Jan.  28,  1863  ;  age  24. 
Charles  O.  Baldwin,  at  Brooks'  Station,  Va  ,  Dec.  6,  1862  ;  age  24. 
Henry  Collins,  at  Culpepper,  Va.,  March  18,  1864  ;  age  21. 
John  Foster,  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  March  u,  1865  ;  age  21. 
Edwin  Johnson,  at  Fort  Schuyler,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  29,  1864;  age  25. 
Simon  G.  Taylor  (R.),  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  March  28,  1865  ;  age  33. 

Company    H. — Michael    Cunningham,    killed    by  fall    of    a    tree   in   Canada   while   on 

furlough,  March  9,  1864  ;  age  21.     Wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Sergt.  Herbert  Adams,  at  Belle  Plain,  Va.,  Jan.  5,  1863  ;  age  39. 
John  Benedict,  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  Feb.  29,  1864;  age  23. 
William  Morgan,  at  Belle  Plain,  Va.,  Feb.  24,  1863  ;  age  21. 
Daniel  Steele,  at  Brooks'  Station,  Va.,  Dec.  7,  1862  ;  age  19. 


380  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Edward  Wilson,  at  Brooks'  Station,  Va.,  Dec.  8,  1862  ;  age  20.     Born  in  Detroit. 
Robert  D.  Simpson,  at  Belle  Plain,  Va.,  March  4,  1863;    age  21.     Wounded  at  Fred- 
ericksburg.     Brought  home  for  burial. 

Company  I. — William  Charlesworth,  in  Redford,  Mich.,  Dec.  5,  1864;  age  23.     Wounded 

at  Gettysburg. 

John  B.  Harris,  at  Brooks'  Station,  Va.,  Nov.  27,  1862  ;  age  24. 
Cross  Harris,  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  Nov.  22,  1862  ;  age  20. 
Charles  Devantoy,  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  Sept.  20,  1863  ;  age  36. 
Isaac  Innes,  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  Dec.  n,  1862  ;  age  18. 
John  H.  Townsend,  at  Belle  Plain,  Va.,  Feb.  23,  1863  ;  age  36. 
Wesley  A.   Tinkham,  at  Washington,   D.    C.,    Dec.    16,   1863;   age  20.      Wounded  at 

Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863. 

Company  K. — Eli  A.  Blanchard  (musician),  in  Livonia,  Mich.,  June  21,  1865  ;  age  21. 

On  sick  furlough. 

Orville  Barnes,  at  Culpepper,  Va.,  March  27,  1864;  age  39. 
Charles  D.  Hoagland,  at  Belle  Plain,  Va  ,  Jan.  13,  1863  ;  age  21. 
Charles  W.  Lessee,  at  Brooks'  Station,  Va.,  Dec.  3,  1862  ;  age  18. 
Simon  Miller,  at  Brooks'  Station,  Va.,  Dec.  3,  1862  ;  age  50. 
James  Nowlin,  at  Brooks'  Station,  Va.,  Dec.  9,  1862  ;  age  70. 
Hiram  Ruff  (wagoner),  in  Washington,  Jan.  14,  1863  ;  age  31. 
Franklin  Colbretzer  (R.),  Camp  Butler,  111.,  April  25,  1865  ;  age  28. 
Edward  Merriman,  (R.),  Camp  Butler,  111.,  March  15,  1865  ;  age  23. 
Silas  P.  Tomlinson,  (R),  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  Dec.  5,  1864  ;  age  22. 


SPRINGFIELD    RECRUITS   WHO   DIED   AT   CAMP   BUTLER,   ILL. 

Thomas  Checken,  C,  drowned  in  Sangamon  River,  June  4,  1865. 
Thomas  Shanahan,  C,  drowned  in  Sangamon  River,  June  4,  1865. 
George  H.  Barnum,,  K,  died  at  East  Saginaw,  April  I,  1865. 
Marshal  B.  Dunlap,  unassigned,  died  May  3,  1865. 
Lewis  Mapes,  unassigned,  died  March  24,  1865. 
William  H.  Wright,  unassigned,  died  May  i,  1865. 

William  F.  Henry,  A,  March  28.  Wm.  H.  Marsh,  F.  April  8. 

William  White,  A,  April  8.  James  W.  Parker,  H,  March  21. 

Benj.  F.  McNitt,  C,  April  27.  Wm.  F.  Rogers,  H,  April  12. 

Sergt.  Joseph  Booth,  E,  April  13.  Alfred  Turner,  H,  April  22. 

O.   M.  Armstrong,  E,  May  15.  William  Gault,  I,  April  15. 

Oren  Carrack,  E,  May  21.  John  Louw,  I,  April  17. 

Edward  Crow,  E,  May  14.  John  Hewins,  K,  April  17. 

R.  E.  Hammond,  E,  March  21.  Robert  Miller,  K,  April  13. 

W.  C.  Wilmarth,  E,  April  22.  Henry  J.  Philleo,  K,  April  7. 

Charles  W.  Goodrich,  F,  April  29.  Henry  H.  Van  Est,  K,  March  26. 


THE   DEAD    OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN.  381 


SUMMARY. 

Killed  on  the  battlefield, 126 

Died  of  wounds,  received  in  battle,     .....  45 

Wounded  and  burned  in  Wilderness,       .....  2 

Died  in  Confederate  prisons,        ......  39 

Died  after  exchange,  while  coming  home,       ....  9 

Died  of  disease  while  in  service,          .....  71 

Springfield  Recruits,  died  of  disease,       .....  24 

Springfield  Recruits,  drowned,     ......  2 

Total  dead  of  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,         ....     318 

The  above  list  does  not  include  those  who  have  died  since  they 
4left  the  army.  Several  died  during  the  war  and  soon  after  leaving  the 
service,  including  Major  Nail  and  others.  And  thus  what  a  trail  of 
blood  the  old  regiment  left  behind  it,  from  young  Hattie,  not  yet 
arrived  at  manhood,  the  first  one  to  fall  in  battle  and  give  up  his 
precious  young  life  to  his  country,  to  the  last,  Ranger,  the  bearded 
and  bronzed  veteran  of  many  battles.  And  so,  on  battlefield,  by 
lonely  wayside,  in  Confederate  prison  burial  lots  in  the  far  South,  and 
in  national  cemeteries  do  our  departed  dead  rest  from  all  strife. 

"  No  more  the  bugle  calls  the  weary  ones ;  rest  noble  spirits  in  thy  graves  alone  ; 
We'll  find  you  and  know  you  among  the  good  and  true, 
Where  robes  of  white  are  given  for  our  faded  coats  of  blue." 


CHAPTER    XX. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SURVIVORS. 


RECORDS  of  the  survivors  of  the  Regiment  are  necessary  for 
a  completement  of  its  history.  Gladly  would  we  enlarge  the 
account  of  the  services  and  deeds  of  each  man  did  space 
allow.  The  events  of  each  one's  conduct  would  fill  a 
volume.  In  the  following  pages  of  this  chapter  will  be  found  in  brief* 
the  record  of  each  survivor.  It  is  a  continuous  story  of  heroic  deeds, 
except  the  few  who  left  their  comrades,  without  permission,  to  make 
up  the  glorious  story  of  its  history  without  them.  It  was  the  fate 
of  some  to  find  themselves,  early  in  their  service,  unfit  for  soldier  life 
from  disease  or  disability  which  was  undeveloped  when  they  enlisted. 
Others  were  wounded  early,  and  were  discharged  or  placed  in  the 
Veteran  Reserve  Corps  to  serve  out  their  enlistment  term.  The  fate 
of  a  few  is  unknown.  They  may  be  sleeping  for  the  flag  in  the  South 
or  properly  discharged  from  some  of  the  numerous  hospitals  that  the 
necessities  of  the  war  created.  A  perusal  of  this  chapter  will  prove 
sadly  interesting,  and  we  commend  it  to  the  reader  as  furnishing  food 
for  contemplation,  when  it  is  remembered  that  this  is  but  one  of  the 
hundreds  of  regiments  that  went  through  the  terrible  ordeal  of 
the  war. 

TO   VETERAN   RESERVE   CORPS   FOR   WOUNDS. 

Corp.  Lewis  E.  Johnson,  A,  Sept.  3,  1863  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Francis  Brobacker,  A,  March  i,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Oscar  N.  Castle,  A,  February  15,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Patrick  Gorman,  A,  Jan.  16,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Walter  S.  Niles,  A,  Sept.  12,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Abraham  Schneiter,  A,  May  i,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Augustus  R.  Sink,  A,  April  15,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Victor  Sutler,  Jr.,  A,  April  15,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
David  Wagg,  A,  Dec.  i,  1863  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
George  Zulch,  A,  Feb.  15,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Herman  Blankertz,  A,  Feb.  15,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Fitzhugh. 
Thomas  A.  Wadsworth,  A,  Feb.  15,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Fitzhugh. 
Corp.  N.  A.  Halstead,  B,  Jan.  21,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
John  Black,  B,  May  15,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

(382) 


RECORDS   OF   THE   SURVIVORS.  383 

Willett  Brown,  B,  April  10,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Richard  Connors,  B,  March  15,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

William  H.  Fowler,  B,  March  15,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

John  H.  McCutcheon,  B,  Jan.  15,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Thomas  Nixon,  B,  May  i,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Jeston  R.  Warner,  B,  Nov.  I,  1863  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Sergt.  Samuel  Joy,  C,  Feb.  15,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Benjamin  F.  Brigham,  C,  May  15,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Alfred  Courtrite,  C,  Feb.  15,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Ammi  R.  Collins,  C,  March  JO,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Robert  Everson,  C,  March  15,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

William  H.  Quance,  C,  March  15,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Joseph  A.  Safford,  C,  March   15,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Hiram  W.  Hughes,  C,  March  12,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Fitzhugh. 

Samuel  W.  Phillips,  C,  March  15,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Fitzhugh  and  Gettysburg. 

Corp.  Daniel  McPherson,  C,  Jan.  15,  1864;  wounded  at  Fredericksburg  and  Gettysb'g. 

James  H.  Johnson,  D,  June  15,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Samuel  R.  Kingsley,  jr.,  D,  Dec.  i,  1863  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

John  Renton,  D,  April  30,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Jesse  R.  Welch,  D,  April  20,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Oliver    M.    Moon,    D,    March    31,    1864 ;    prisoner   at    Fredericksburg ;    wounded    at 

Gettysburg. 

Sergt.  John  Blackwell,  E,  April  16,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Corp.  John  W.  Fletcher,  E,  Jan.  15,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Stephen  Delorme,  E,  May  15,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
James  Laird,  E,  Feb.  14,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg.     Discharged  from  V.   R.  C. 

in  October,  1864,  and  while  coming  home  over  the  B.  &  O.   R.    R.,   was  captured 

by   the   enemy's   guerrillas,    with   several   hundred  others,   and  two    paymasters. 

Confined  in  Libby  Prison  six  months.     The  raiders  took  $200  in  money  from  him. 
Edward  Tracy,  E,  March  15.  1864;  prisoner  at  Fredericksburg;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Corp.  William  Kalsow,  F,  June  15,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Corp.  Abel  P.  Turner,  F,  July  i,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Henry  Chapman,  F,  Sept.  30,  1863;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Charles  Gochy,  F,  March  31,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
John  R.  Moores,  F.  Sept.  30,  1863  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Solomon  R.  Niles,  F,  April  I,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Edwin  Plass,  F,  May,  15,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Mordaunt  Williams,  F,  March  15,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Thomas  Burns,  F,  Sept.  i,  1863  ;  wounded  at  Fitzhugh. 
Henry  Robinson,  G,  in  1864  ;  wounded  at  Fitzhugh. 
William  Harvey,  G,  Feb.  19,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Charles  W.  Langs,  G,  June  15,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Enoch  F.  Langs,  G,  in  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Jeremiah  Sullivan,   G    Jan.   21,   1865;    wounded  at  Gettysburg,   and  on   picket   near 

Petersburg. 

Corp.  Charles  M.  Knapp,  H,  Nov.  i,  1863;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Van  Renselaer  W.  Lemm,  H,  April  28,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Frederick  Uebelhoer,  H,  Jan.  15,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Andrew  Waubecq,  H,  April  7,  1864;  wounded  at  Fitzhugh.     From  E. 
Abner  D.  Austin,  I,  May,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH  MICHIGAN. 


Ralph  Archibald,  I,  Feb.  15,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

George  L.  Carey,  I,  March  15,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Ephraim  D.  Cooper,  I,  July  15,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

James  Magooghan,  I,  March  25,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

ist  Sergt.  Geo.  W.  Fox,  K,  Dec.  19,  1863;  wounded  at  Fredericksburg  and  Gettysburg. 

Sergt.  Fernando  D.  Forbes,  K,  Dec.  19,  1863  ;  wounded  at  Fredericksburg. 

Corp.  Francis  T.  Dushane,  K,  April  6,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Jerome  B.  Stockham,  K,  April  i,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

John  R.  Bruce,  K,  April  28,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Patrick  Gaffney,  K,  April  10,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

James  Leslie,  K,  April  i,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Daniel  W.  Lessee,  K,  Jan.  9,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Charles  E.  Maynard,  K,  Jan.  15,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Eugene  R.  Mills,  K,  July  i,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Charles  A.  Sutliff,  K,  Jan.  25,  1865;  wounded  at  Wilderness. 


TO    VETERAN    RESERVE   CORPS   FOR   DISABILITY 


Company  A. 

Harvey  J.  Brown,  Feb.  15,  1864. 
Dexter  B.  Crosby,  May  i,  1864. 
George  A.  Moores,  March  16,  1864. 
John  Schlag,  Sept.  30,  1863. 
John  Schubert,  Sept.  30,  1863. 
Francis  Wright,  Feb.  15,  1864. 

Company  B. 

Duncan  S.  Alexander,  March  15,  1864. 
Charles  Henson,  in  1864. 
Jacob  Walce,  in  1865. 

Company  C. 

Corp.  Bela  C.  Ide,  March  15,  1864. 
William  F.  Hughes,  March  15,  1863. 
Sebri  H.  Fairman,  Feb.  4,  1864. 
Alonzo  B.  Markham,  Dec.  19,  1863. 

Company  D. 

Oliver  Herrick,  Jan.  21,  1865. 
Jacob  Kaiser,  May  31,  1864. 
James  Palmer,  in  1864. 
John  Guest  (R.),  May  3,  1865. 

Company  F. 

Corp.  Christopher  Henne,  Jan.  15,  1864. 
August  Albrecht,  July  i,  1863. 
Louis  L.  Beaubien,  May  15,  1864. 
Edward  Burkhans,  March  15,  1864. 
William  Bullock,  Feb.  15,  1864. 
Ludwig  Herzel,  Jan.  15,  1864. 


Company  E. 

Corp.  Lewis  Dale,  May  15,  1864. 
Thomas  Gibbons,  April  10,  1864. 

Company  G. 

John  M.  Dermody,  Sept.  30,  1863. 
William  R.  Graves,  March  15,  1864. 
Barney  McKay,  April  14,  1864. 
Silas  A.  McMillan,  July  i,  1863. 
Joseph  J.  Watts,  July  I,  1863. 

Company  H. 

Barney  J.  Campbell,  Dec.  19,  1863. 
John  Peterson,  Jan.  15,  1864. 

Company  I. 

Charles  H.  Houk,  July  i,  1863. 
Peter  Brink,  Jan.  15,  1864. 
John  P.  Barrett,  Jan.  15,  1864. 
John  J.  Dickey,  Jan.  15,  1864. 
David  Lewis  (R.),  March  8,  1864. 

Company  K. 

Thomas  Butler,  Aug.  10,  1864. 
Michael  Daly,  April  27,  1864. 
Robert  Outhwaite,  Dec.  19,  1864. 
Robert  R.  Peters,  Sept.  i,  1863. 
James  Van  Houten,  Sept.  30,  1863. 
David  A.  Wood,  March  13,  1864. 
Hiram  B.  Millard,  March  10,  1864. 


RECORDS   OF   THE   SURVIVORS.  385 

Morris  Troutt,  B,  in  1864.     Captured  at  Gettysburg.     Prisoner  14  months. 

Edward  A.  Raynor,  B,  Feb.  i,  1864.     In  Battery  B  17  months. 

Joseph  Smith,  B,  Nov.  15,  1863.     In  Battery  B  8  months. 

William  H.  Wills,  B,  Nov.  i,  1863.     In  Battery  B  8  months. 

Henry  S.  Baker,  D,  March  i,  1864.     Quartermaster's  Clerk,  18  months. 

Corp.  Irwin  W.  Knapp,  F.     Prisoner  at  Fredericksburg. 

DISCHARGED   FOR   WOUNDS. 

Lieut.-Col.  MARK  FLANIGAN,  Nov.  21,  1863  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Major  EDWIN  B.  WIGHT,  Nov.  17,  1863  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Capt.  WILLIAM  H.  REXFORD,  Nov.  21,  1863  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Capt.  CHARLES  A.  HOYT,  Nov.  21,  1863  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Corp.  John  S.  Coy,  Jr.,  A,  Jan.  20,  1864  ;  wounded  four  times  at  Gettysburg. 

Corp.  Mark  T.  Chase,  A,  Oct.  7,   1864  ;   captured  in  Div.  Prov.  Guard,  Dec.   i,  1862. 

Prisoner  seven  months.  Wounded  and  prisoner  at  Wilderness. 
Corp.  James  P.  Horen,  A,  April  6,  1865  ;  lost  an  arm  in  Wilderness. 
Corp.  Herman  Stehfest,  A,  June  15,  1865  ;  lost  an  arm  at  Dabney's  Mill.  Served  in 

Battery  B,  19  months. 

Solomon  S.  Benster,  A,  Oct.  27,  1863  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Frank  Brennon,  A,  June  2,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill. 
Albert  Peyscha,  A,  March  10,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Wilderness. 
George  W.  Dingman  (R.),  A,  June  7,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Dabney's  Mill. 
Ferdinand  Stark  (R.),  A,  July  24,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Petersburg. 
Peter  Vermiller  (R.),  A,  May  17,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill. 
John  Happe,  A,  Dec.  10,  1863  ;  lost  a  foot  in  Battery  B  at  Gettysburg. 
Sergt.  John  J.  Duryea,  B,  May  26,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Petersburg. 
Corp.  James  S.  Booth,  B,  May  9,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Andrew  J.  Arnold,  B,  Jan.  24,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Frederick  Delosh,  B,  Sept.  10,  1863  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Henry  M.  Fielding,  B,  Jan.  14,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Daniel  Sullivan,  B,  June  23,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Patrick  Shannon,  B,  Nov.  24,  1863  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Lafayette  Veo,  B,  Nov.  24,  1863  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Richard  Maloney,  B,  June  5,  1865  ;  wounded  and  prisoner  at  Gettysburg. 
Charles  D.  Minckler,  B,  April  5,  1865  ;  prisoner  at  Gettysburg,  wounded  at  Petersburg. 
William  Smith,  B,  Nov.  28,  1863  ;  lost  an  arm  at  Gettysburg. 
Joseph  E.  McConnell,  B,  in  1865.     Went  out  with  regiment.     Not  regularly  enlisted 

and   not   mustered.     Served   until    Dec.   20,    1862,    and    received    no    pay  or   aid. 

Refused  to  muster  and   permitted  to  go  home.     Enlisted   in   regiment,   April  i, 

1863  ;  wounded  at  Petersburg  ;  left  leg  amputated  and  wounded  in  other  leg. 
George  H.  Graves,  B,  June  21,  1863  ;  wounded  at  Fredericksburg. 
1st  Sergt.  Asa  Joy,  C,  Oct.  16,  1863  ;  leg  amputated  at  Gettysburg. 
Sergt.  Edgar  O.  Durfee,  C,  Dec.  28,  1863  ;  arm  amputated  at  Gettysburg. 
Corp.  Aiken  Holloway,  C,  April  4,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Wilderness. 
Corp.  Wm.  H.  Whallon,  C,  Jan.  22,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
John  W.  Babbitt,  C,  Nov.  16,  1863  ;  leg  amputated  at  Gettysburg. 
Calvin  Maxfield,  C,  April  27,  1865  ;  wounded  at  North  Anna. 
Christian  Stockfleth,  C,  May  3,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

(28) 


386  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH  MICHIGAN. 

Robert  Towers,  C,  March  23,  1865  ;  prisoner  at  Gettysburg  ;  wounded  at  Petersburg. 

John  M.  Doig,  C,  Nov.  n,  1863  ;  wounded  at  Fitzhugh. 

Corp.  John  Moody,  D,  Aug.  21,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg  and  Jericho   Ford  ;  arm 

amputated. 

Corp.  Orson  B   Curtis,  D,  March  2,  1863.     Left  in  hospital  at  Brooks'   Station,  Va., 
when  army  moved  for  Fredericksburg.     Heard  firing  on  Rappahannock  and  with 
permission  of  Assistant  Surgeon  C.  C.  Smith,  started  for  his  regiment.     Marched 
14   miles,  fell  in   with   Seventh   Michigan   Infantry,  crossed  Rappahannock  with 
them   in  boats,   and  helped  clear  the  enemy   from   the   rifle    pits  ;   wolinded   in 
subsequent  engagement ;  left  arm  amputated  on  the  field. 
Peter  C.  Bird,  D,  Oct.  21,  1865  ;  wounded  severely  in  leg  at  Gettysburg. 
John  Danbert,   D,   June   8,   1865  ;  wounded  at  Laurel   Hill  and   Dabney's   Mill  ;    leg 

amputated. 
Richard  Palmer.  D,  April  6,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg  by  ball  striking  his  breast 

plate,  producing  paralysis  of  body. 

Amos  Abbott,  D,  July  20,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill. 
William  T.  Nowland,  D,  Dec.  i,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill. 
Christopher  Mayhew,  D,  Feb.  23,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill,  (R.) 
Henry  W.  Randall,  D,  Sept.  13,  1863;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Sergt.  Andrew  Strong,  D,  June  9,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Bethesda  Church. 
Wm.  Walter  Sands,  D,  April  28,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg,  severely  in  leg. 
Samuel  Brown  (R.),  D,  May  18,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Wilderness. 
J.  L.  Fairweather  (R,),  D,  May  17,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Dabney's  Mill, 
ist  Sergt.  Joseph  R.  Boyle,  E,  Oct.  26,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg  and  Wilderness. 
Sergt.  Thomas  Stackpole,  E,  Jan  14,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Petersburg. 
Corp.  James,  S.  Murphy,  E,  Nov.  18,  1863  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Corp.  Frank  Schneider,  E,  May  6,  1864 ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Corp.  Eugene  Smith,  E,  Oct.  7,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg  and  Fredericksburg. 
Patrick  Tuney,  E,  Jan.  I,  1864;  leg  amputated  at  Gettysburg. 
Joseph  Collins,  E.     After  the  war  ;  wounded  at  Wilderness. 
Corp.  Andrew   Wagner,  F,   March   28,   1864;  wounded   severely  at  Gettysburg  while 

carrying  the  colors. 
John  G.  Klinck,  F,   Oct.   22,   1864;  prisoner  at  Gettysburg;    wounded  at  Wilderness. 

Noted  for  his  "mouth  organ"  music  in  camp. 
Charles  B.  Cicotte  (R.),  F,  Dec.  19,  1864;  wounded  at  Petersburg. 
Thomas  Robinson  (R.),  F,  Dec.  27,  1864;  wounded  at  Petersburg. 
Peter  Ford,  F,  March  29,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Bethesda  Church. 
Eugene  Sims,  F,  Nov.  7,  1863;  lost  left  arm  at  Gettysburg. 
Charles    F.   Allyn,    G,   May   17,    1865  ;    wounded   twice   at   Gettysburg   and  twice  at 

Bethesda  Church. 
Michael    Brabeau,    G,    April    16,    1865.      Wounded    at    Gettysburg,    Petersburg    and 

Dabney's  Mill. 

Sergt.  John  W.  McMillan,  G,  Nov.  30,  1864;  lost  a  leg  at  Gettysburg. 
Corp.  James  R.  Lewis,  G,  Dec.  17,  1864;  wounded  at  Bethesda  Church. 
Wm.  A.  Armstrong,  G,  Nov.  26,  1863  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
George  Hinmonger,  G,  Dec.  31,  1863  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Wm.  H.  Southworth,  G,  Nov.  2,  1863  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Sam'l  T.  Lautenschlager,  G,  March  29,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Charles  G.  Malley,  G,  June  8,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
James  Ford,  G,  June  7,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg  and  Wilderness. 


RECORDS    OF   THE   SURVIVORS.  387 

Edward   L.  Farrell,  H,  June  9,  1865  ;  prisoner  at  Fredericksburg,  wounded  at  Wilder 
ness  and  Petersburg. 

James  F.  Clegg,  H,  May  13,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg  and  Spottsylvania. 

Anthony  Brabeau,  H,  Sept.  20,  186*3  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Joseph  Schunck,  H,  May  24,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

John  J.  Larkins,  H,  July  31,  1865  ;  wounded  at  North 'Anna. 

Mathew  Myers,  H,  May  23,  1865  ;  wounded  at  North  Anna. 

1st  Sergt.  Albert  E.  Bigelow,  I,  Nov.  n,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg  and  Wilderness. 

Corp.    Orville   W.   Stringer,    I,  Jan.  4,    1865  ;    prisoner  at  Gettysburg ;    wounded  at 
Petersburg. 

John  Bryant,  I,  March  7,  1863  ;  lost  an  arm  at  Fredericksburg. 

Corp.  David  S.  Sears,  I,  March  n,  1864;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Francis  C.  Hodgman,  I.  Nov.  17,  1863  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Charles  Robinson,  I,  Dec.  10,  1863  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Henry  Schindehett,  I,  March  24,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

John  H.  Canfield,  I,  May  31,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg  and  Wilderness. 

Patrick  Clarey,  I,  Feb.  26,  1864;  leg  amputated  at  Gettysburg. 

Richard  M.  Fish,  I,  May  3,  1865  ;  leg  amputated  at  Gettysburg. 

Mark  Hearn,  I,  May  29,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Bethesda  Church. 

Charles  Daney,  I,  March  9,  1866  ;  wounded  on  Weldon  Road. 

ist  Sergt.  Robert  A.  Bain,  K,  Dec.  10,  1863  ;  arm  shot  off  at  Fredericksburg. 

Sergt.  Samuel  F.   Smith,    K,   Dec.   14,   1864 ;  wounded   at  Gettysburg  and  Bethesda 
Church. 

Corp.  Wm.  M.  Johnson,  K,  Jan.  5,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Corp.  Isaac  M.  Jennie,  K,  Oct.  6,  1864;  wounded  at  Wilderness. 

James  Lynch  (R.),  K,  May  31,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Dabney's  Mill. 

Andrew  Bruthaumpt,  K,  April  25,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Joseph  Ferstel,  K,  Sept.  5,  1863  ;   wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

David  J.  Kellar,  K,  April  25,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Charles  E.  Miller,  K,  June  6,  1864 ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Enoch  A.  Whipple,  K,  Sept.  12,  1863  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Wilber  F.  Straight,  K,  Dec.  30,  1864  ;  wounded  and  prisoner  at  Wilderness. 

Gurdon  L.  Wight,  K,  July  13,  1865  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg  and  at  Petersburg  ;  left 
leg  amputated. 

RESIGNED. 

Lt.-Col.  W.  W.  WIGHT,  June  9,  1864.  Capt.  JAMES  CULLEN,  Dec.  20,  1862. 

Major  HENRY  W.  NALL,  April  17,  1863.  Capt.  WM.  A.  OWEN,  March  7,  1863. 

Surgeon  JOHN  H.  BEACH,  April  4,  1865.  Capt.  W.  G.  VINTON,  Dec.  29,  1862. 

Asst.  Surgeon  C.  C.  SMITH,  Feb.  13,  1863.  Capt.  J.  M.  FARLAND,  July  9,  1864. 

Asst.  Surg.  ALEX.  COLLAR,  Sept.  18,  1863.  Capt.  A.  J.  CONNOR,  Oct.  14,  1864. 

Adjt.  JAMES  J.  BARNS,  May  9,  1863.  Capt.  GEORGE  W.  BURCHELL,  Jan.  21,  1865. 

Qrm.  DIGBY  V.  BELL,  jr.,  Nov.  3,  1863.  ist  Lt.  J.  J.  LENNON,  Dec.  20,  1862. 

Capt.  I.  W.  INGERSOLL,  Dec.  20,  1862.  2d  Lt.  C.  C.  YEMANS,  Sept.  i,  1863. 

Capt.  CALVIN  B.  CROSBY,  Dec.  5,  1862.  2d  Lt.  JOHN  M.  GORDON,  Dec.  28,  1862. 

DISCHARGED    FOR   DISABILITY. 

Company  A.  Harrison  Baker,  May  31,  1865. 

Sergt.  Wendell  Benster,  Dec.  22,  1862.  George  Eldridge,  April  25,  1865. 

Corp.    Menzo  M.    Benster,   Feb.   8,   1863  ;       Jacob  Fischer,  Feb.  2,  1863. 

was  with  the  color  guard.  William  Kendall,  April  14,  1863. 


388 


HISTORY  OF  THE  TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


Wm.  W.  Smith,  Aug.  28,  1863. 
James  K.  Soults,  Sept.  26,  1862. 

Company  B. 

Sergt.  Martin  L.  Peavy,  May  26,  1865. 

Corp.  James  Hanmer,  jr.,  June  29,  1865. 

Francis  Baysley,  March  31,  1865. 

Thomas  Coope,  Jan.  I,  1863. 

Joseph  French,  Aug.  6,  1863. 

Frank  Hicks  ;  never  left  Detroit. 

Jacob  Klinck,  March  31,  1863. 

John  J.  Lucas,  July  6,  1863. 

William  Smith,  Dec.  25,  1862. 

Nathan  Way,  June  n,  1863. 

Corp.  Arthur  Macy,  June  5,  1865  ;  wound 
ed  twice  at  Gettysburg. 

Timothy  O'Connor,  May  8,  1865  ;  absent 
since  Sept.  8,  1862. 

Company  C. 

ist  Sergt.  Charles  Westfall,  Oct.  31,  1862. 
Corp.  Oscar  N.  Loud,  Nov.  13,  1862. 
Corp.  Dewit  C.  Taylor,  Nov.  13,  1862. 
Thomas  A.  Armstrong,  Nov.  13,  1862. 
Oscar  N.  Baker,  Nov.  13,  1862. 
Wm.  H.  Brigham,  Sept.  26,  1862. 
Wm.  W.  Barton,  Aug.  17,  1863. 
Chas.  H.  Cogswell,  May -28,  1864. 
James  B.  Crosby,  Dec.  22,  1862. 
Henry  C.  Dennis,  Feb.  28,  1863. 
Jacob  Farley,  Sept.  20,  1862. 
Alfred  W.  Hanmer,  June  10,  1863. 
James  N.  Loud,  Nov.  24,  1862. 
Wm.  H.  Lewis,  Sept.  20,  1862. 
Nelson  H.  May,  Sept.  30,  1862. 
James  St.  John  (R.),  July  19,  1865. 
Henry  Smith  (R.),  June  3,  1865. 
Norman  Collins,  May  19, 1865,  (drummer). 
Watson  W.  Eldridge,  June  3,   1865,  two 

years  in  Hosp.  Detach. 
George   W.   Hoisington,   April   28,   1865  ; 

teamster  for  two  years. 
James  S.  Seeley,  Oct.  7,  1863  ;  prisoner  at 

Gettysburg. 

Company  D. 

Sergt.  Geo.  E.  Moore,  March  14,  1864. 
Corp.  Geo.  W.  Chrouch,  Nov.  12,  1862. 
Corp.  A.  C.  Chamberlin,  Sept.  30,  1862. 
Corp.  Wm.  F.  Hicks,  Feb.  7,  1863. 
Persons  H.  Brace,  March  24,  1863. 


Geo.  H.  Cheeney,  Feb.  6,  1863. 

Draugott  Haberstrite,  Sept.  10,  1863. 

William  Hall,  May  19,  1865  ;  in  ambu 
lance  corps  2^j  years. 

Frank  Heig,  May  12,  1865  ;  in  ist  Corps 
Qrm.  Dept.,  2  years. 

Peter  F.  Lantz,  June  4,  1863. 

Fernando  W.  Moon.  Jan.  13,  1864.   • 

James  Renton,  Oct.  23,  1863. 

William  M.  Ray,  June  15,  1863. 

Newell  Stevens,  June  30,  1863. 

Company  E. 

Sergt.  Thomas  Burns,  July  6,  1863. 
Corp.  Garrett  Rourke,  Feb.  6,  1864. 
Corp.  Amos  C.  Rogers,  April  22,  1863. 
Henry  Coonrad,  June  n,  1863. 
Patrick  Coffey,  April  8,  1863. 
Patrick  Conlon,  Feb  23,  1863. 
Owen  Donavan,  Sept.  28,  1862. 
John  Gabriel,  Feb.  2,  1863. 
Evens  H.  McCloud,  Oct.  19,  1863. 
George  D.  McGiveron,  April  2,  1863. 
Andrew  Kelley,  July  i,  1864. 
John  Schultz,  Feb.  28,  1863. 
Joseph  Trumbradd,  June  n,  1863. 
James  E.  Whalon,  Sept.  28,  1862. 
Thomas  Rourke  (R.),  Oct.  29,  1864. 

Company  F. 

Sergt.  Jno.  J.  Littlefield,  Feb.  23,  1863. 
Corp.  John  J.  Sullivan,  Dec.  8,  1862. 
Joel  R.  Brace,  Nov.  14,  1862. 
Francis,  Flury,  Sept.  18,  1862. 
William  S.  Fox,  March  17,  1863. 
George  M.  Holloway,  May  29,  1863. 
Elmer  Holloway,  Dec.  17,  1862. 
John  Hartman,  May  28,  1863. 
Fayette  Jones,  Nov.  12,  1862. 
Gideon  Martin,  May  13,  1863. 
Myron  Murdock,  July  6,  1863. 
Charles  Raymond,  March  14,  1863. 
Henry  Seele,  Oct.  20,  1862. 
Theodore  Smith,  Jan.  5,  1864. 
A.  L.  Schmidt,  June  10,  1863. 

Company  G. 

Garrett  Garrettson,  jr.,  May  20,  1865. 
John  H.  Terry,  Nov.  8,  1864. 
Wm.  H.  Vannoller,  Sept.  20,  1862. 
Albert  Taylor  (R.),  Mar.  27,  1865. 


RECORDS    OF   THE   SURVIVORS. 


389 


Daniel  Blakely,  Musician,  Jan.  3,  1863. 
Charles  H.  Dalrymple,  March  29,  1864. 
Wm.  R.  Lewis,  to  Qrm.  Dept.,  June  ig, 
1863. 

Company  H. 

Sergt.  Rich'd  H.  Davey,  Dec.  8,  1862. 
Sergt.  John  H.  Wiley,  Sept.  10,  1863. 
Corp.  Robert  Simpson,  April  27,  1863. 
Corp.  Anthony  Jacobs,  Aug.  i,  1863. 
Corp.  Wm.  Featherstone,  Aug.  10,  1865. 
Edward  Eberts,  Feb.  28,  1863. 
William  Ford,  Dec.  8,  1862. 
Leander  R.  Hoople,  March  30,  1863. 
Wm.  H.  Howlett,  Sept.  25,  1862. 
Charles  E.  Letts,  Jan  30,  1863. 
William  F.  Reed,  Feb.  25,  1863. 
Geo.  W.  Severance,  Jan.  14,  1863. 
Samuel  Steele,  Dec.  12,  1862. 
Charles  W.  Thomas,  April  30,  1863. 
Charles  M.  Stickles,  Nov.  12,  1862. 
Thomas  Drumming  (R.),  May  3,  1865. 
D.  C.  Butterfield,  Feb.  27,  1863. 
Geo.  G.  Cady  (wagoner),  Sept.  25,  1862. 
David  Ferguson  (drummer),  Jan.,  1863. 
Abram    Hoffmann,    March    5,    1863,     for 

injuries  from  firing  "  funeral  salute," 

at  Brooks'  Station,  Va. 
Benj.   Pelong,  June,   1865.     Absent  from 

regiment  two  years. 
F.  A.  Schaube  (musician),  Jan'y,  1863. 

Company  I. 

Sergt.  Silas  H.  Wood,  Oct.  26,  1863. 
Corp.  Wm.  H.  Cross,  Sept.  10,  1863. 
Corp.  Pratt  B.  Haskell,  Sept.  10,  1863. 
Corp.  Fred.  F.  Bates,  April  27,  1863. 


Henry  H.  Crarey,  March  14,  1863. 
Luther  D.  Carr,  April  n,  1863. 
John  Clark,  Jan.  i,  1863. 
Oscar  Delong,  July  13,  1863. 
Wallace  P.  Dicks,  Feb.  23,  1863. 
Alexander  J.  Eddy,  Aug.  15,  1865. 
Lewis  Hawkins,  Jan.  i,  1863. 
A.  J.  Hutchinson,  Feb.  24,  1863. 
Alpheus  Johnson,  Oct.  10,  1863  ;  prisoner 

at  Gettysburg. 

Adolphus  Londrush,  Jan.  2,  1863. 
Alexander  O'Rourke,  Sept.  26,  1862. 
Byron  Pierce,  April  27,  1863. 
Wm.  J.  Riffenbury,  Sept.  26,  1862. 
Charles  F.  Sweet,  April  i,  1863. 
Cornelius  Veley,  Feb.  4,  1863. 
Jeremiah  Vining,  Sept.  10,  1863. 
Roswell  Van  Kuren,  Jan.  i,  1863. 
James  Whalen,  Jan.  20,  1863. 
Henry  Wooden,   Feb.  4,  1863. 

Company  K. 

Corp.  Samuel  Johnson,  May  23,  1865. 
Richard  D.  Ainsworth,  Aug.  9,  1863. 
William  H.  Cole,  Feb.  4,  1863. 
Eugene  C.  Gessley,  Feb.  21,  1863. 
Albert  A.  Galpin,  Jan.  i,  1864. 
Marvin  L.  Lapham,  Feb.  16,  1863. 
William  Lorra,  April  25,  1863. 
Neil  McNeil,  Feb.  17,  1863. 
Geo.  W.  Olmstead,  Feb.  21,  1863. 
William  Platt,  Nov.  17,  1862. 
Hugh  G.  Roberts,  Sept.  20,  1862. 
Abraham  Rathbone,  Dec.  12,  1862. 
Wallace  A.  Wood,  Sept.  6,  1863. 
John  Wightman  (R.),  Oct.  13,  1864. 


DISCHARGED    FOR    PROMOTION   IN   THE    REGIMENT. 


Sergt.  George  Dingwall,  A. 
Sergt.  Hugh  F.  Vanderlip,  A. 
Sergt.  Edward  B.  Wilkie,  A. 
(N.  C.  S.)  Augustus  F.  Ziegler,  A. 
Sergt.  Samuel  W.  Church,  B. 
Sergt.  George  H.  Pinkney,  B. 
Sergt.  John  Witherspoon,  B. 
Sergt.  Augustus  Pomeroy,  G. 
(N.  C.  S.)  Lucius  L.  Shattuck,  C. 
Corp.  Sirel  Chilson,  D. 


Sergt.  E.  Ben  Fischer,  D. 
Sergt.  George  W.  Haigh,  D. 
Sergt.  Shepherd  L.  Howard,  D. 
Sergt.  Charles  A.  King,  D. 
Sergt.  Michael  Dempsey,  E. 
(N.  C.  S.)  Gilbert  A.  Dickey,  E. 
(N.  C.  S.)  Alonzo  Eaton,  E. 
(N.  C.  S.)  Andrew  J.  Connor,  F. 
(N.  C.  S.)  Edwin  E.  Norton,  F. 
Sergt.  L.  H.  Chamberlin,  F. 


39° 


HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN. 


Sergt.  George  W    Chilson,  F. 
Sergt.  William  B.  Hutchinson,  F. 
Sergt.  George  A.  Ross,  F. 
Sergt.  James  D.  Shearer,  F. 
Sergt.  Andrew  J.  Bucklin  (R.),  F. 
Sergt.  Charles  H.  Chope,  G. 
Sergt.  Benjamin  W.  Hendricks,  G. 
Sergt.  George  Hutton,  G. 
Sergt.  William  M.  McNoah,  G. 
Sergt.  Albert  Wilford,  G. 


Sergt.  Augustus  Hussey,  H. 
.Sergt.  William  R.  Dodsley,  H. 
Sergt.  Everard  B.  Welton,  H. 
Sergt.  Ferdinand  E.  Welton,  H. 
Private  David  Congdon,  H. 
(N.  C.  S.)  Elmer  D.  Wallace,  H. 
Sergt.  Abraham  Earnshavv,  I. 
Sergt.  William  T.  Wheeler,  I. 
Sergt.  R.  H.  Humphreyville,  K. 
(N.  C.  S.)  Ira  W.  Fletcher,  K. 


DISCHARGED   FOR   PROMOTION   IN   OTHER   REGIMENTS. 

ist  Lt.  Frederick  A.  Buhl,  B,  Nov.  10,  1863.     (Capt.  ist  Cav.) 
ad  Lt.  Jacob  M.  Howard,  jr.,  F,  Aug.  15,  1863.     Staff  Duty. 
(N.  C.  S.)  Francis  Raymond,  jr.,  April  29,  1864.     (Adjt.  ist  Mich.  Inf.) 
(N.  C.  S.)  James  F.  Raymond,  Feb.  I,  1863. 
Sergt.  Wm.  H.  Ingersoll,  B,  Oct.  10,  1863.     (gth  Mich.  Cav.) 
Corp.  John  C.  Alvord,  B,  Jan.  20,  1863.     (gth  Mich.  Cav.) 
Corp.  James  R.  Havens,  B,  Dec.  25,  1862.     (gth  Mich.  Cav.) 
Corp.  Warren  A.  Norton,  H,  Dec.  i,  1862.     (Capt.  2yth  Mich.  Inf.) 
Amander  G.  Barns,  B,  Sept.  27,  1863.     Wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
Henry  B.  Hudson,  B,  Jan.  20,  1863.     (gth  Mich.  Cav.) 
Lionel  B.  Hartt,  D,  May  i,  1864.     (Chaplain  gsth  N.  Y.) 
William  B.  Knapp,  D,  April  10,  1864.     (Hosp.  Steward,  U.  S.  A.) 

Amos  Andrews,  G,  March  2g,  1864.     (ist  Lt.  io2d  U.  S.  Colored  Infantry).     Wounded 
at  Gettysburg. 


DISCHARGED   FOR   MISCELLANEOUS   REASONS. 

ist  Lt.  HENRY  P.  KINNEY,  I,  Jan.  20,  1863.     (By  order). 

ist  Lt.  ABRAHAM  EARNSHAW,  I,  March  4,  1864.     (By  Court  Martial). 

2d  Lt.  WM.  T.  WHEELER,  I,  May  20,  1863.     (For  cowardice). 

Sergt.  Willard  Roe,  C,  June  14,  1864.     (For  Signal  Corps). 

Sergt.  Frank  Kendrick,  E,  Dec.  14,  1865.     (By  order).     Wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Corp.  Benjamin  H.  Conwell,  B,  May  i,  1864.     (To  enter  navy). 

Corp.  Charles  H.  Owen,  G,  April  24,  1864.     (To  enter  navy). 

Corp.  Patrick  W.  Nolan,  E,  Sept.  i,  1863.     (To  enter  navy). 

Neil  Christensen  (R.),  C,  April  I,  1864.     (To  enter  navy). 

John  Southard,  E,  April  i,  1864.     (To  enter  navy). 

Willard  A.  Smith,  F,  April  i,  1864.     (To  enter  navy). 

John  H.  Drew,  G,  April  i,  1864.     (To  enter  navy). 

Jonathan  Briggs,  I,  April  15,  1864.     (To  enter  navy). 

Ambrose  Roe,  C,  June  30,  1864.     (For  signal  corps). 

Daniel  Mara,  B,  Aug.  22,  1862.     (By  habeas  corpus). 

Thomas  Brennon,  E,  Feb.  2,  1864.     (By  habeas  corpus). 

Daniel  B.  Nichols  (Drum  Major),  Nov.  3,  1862.     Honorably  by  order. 

Charles  Phillips  (Fife  Major),  Nov.  3,  1862.     Honorably  by  order. 

George  F.  Hamilton  (musician),  A,  March  20,  1863.     Honorably  by  order. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SURVIVORS.  39 1 

Herman  Krumback  (drummer),  B,  March  20,  1863.     Honorably  by  order. 
Patrick  Malone  (drummer),  B,  March  20,  1863.     Honorably  by  order. 
Charles  A.  Phillips  (drummer),  C,  March  20,  1863.     Honorably  by  order. 
Henry  D.  Chilson  (drummer),  D,  March  20,  1863.     Honorably  by  order. 
Charles  Pascoe,  E,  March  20,  1863.     Honorably  by  order. 
James  T.  Newington,  B,  Feb.  23,  1863.     By  court  martial. 
John  Largest  (R),  F,  May  6,  1865.     By  court  martial. 
William  Ingersoll,  H,  April  12,  1863.     By  court  martial. 
Ira  F.  Pearsoll,  H,  April  12,  1863.     By  court  martial. 


DISCHARGED   AS    PAROLED    PRISONERS. 

Sergt.  William  C.  Bates,  A,  June  8,  1865.     Wounded  and  prisoner  at  Wilderness.     In 

Andersonville  and  other  prisons. 
Francis  Griffin,  Jr.,  (R.),  A,  April  18,  1865.     Wounded  and  prisoner  at  Wilderness.     In 

Andersonville. 

Samuel  Fury,  B,  June  24,  1865.     Prisoner  at  Wilderness. 
Corp.  James   Gillespie,  C,  June    8,   1865.      Prisoner   at   Gettysburg.     At    Belle    Isle, 

Andersonville  and  Florence  prisons,  21  months. 

Samuel  W.  Foster,  C,  May  15,  1865.     Captured  on  "  Brooks'  Expedition." 
George   W.    Kynoch,    C,   June   8,    1865.      Wounded   at   Gettysburg.      Wounded   and 

prisoner  at  Wilderness.     In  Andersonville. 
Henry  H.  Ladd,  D,  June  16,  1865.     Wounded  at  Gettysburg.     At  hospital  duty  until 

April,   1864.      Mounted  orderly  for  Gen.  Wadsworth  until  the  latter  was  killed. 

Orderly  for  Div.  Surgeon-in-Chief  Chamberlin  and  Gen.  Cutler  until  Aug.  1864. 

Prisoner  at  Weldon  Railroad  fight.     At  Belle  Isle  and  Salisbury  prisons. 
Melville  H.    Storms,    D,  June   8,   1865.      Wounded   and  prisoner  at    Gettysburg.     In 

Andersonville  and  other  prisons  21  months. 

Sergt.  Rice  F.  Bond,  E,  June  8,  1865.     Prisoner  at  Wilderness.     In  Andersonville. 
Dennis  Dryden,  E,  at  Annapolis  Parole  Camp,  in   1865.     Prisoner  at  Gettysburg.     In 

Andersonville  20  months. 
Corp.    Levi  S.   Freeman,    F,    June    8,    1865.      Wounded    at   Gettysburg.     Prisoner  at 

Wilderness.     In  Andersonville. 

Abram  Akey,  F,  May  19,  1865.     Prisoner  at  Gettysburg.     In  Andersonville  17  months. 
Andrew  Musberger,  G,  June  24,  1865  (R.).     Prisoner  at  Wilderness. 
James  S.  Innes,  I,  in  1865.     Prisoner  at  Wilderness.     In   Andersonville.   Paroled  and 

on  board  "Stm.  Sultana"  when  blown  up  on  the  Mississippi,  April  27,  1865. 
George  W.  Ormsbee,  I,  June  19,  1865.     Prisoner  at  Wilderness.     In  Andersonville. 
Sergt.  B.  Ross  Finlayson,   K,   June   16,    1865.     Prisoner  at  Gettysburg  and  again  at 

Weldon  Road.     At  Belle  Isle  and  Salisbury.     Claims  to  have  carried  the  flag  for 

a  brief  time  at  Gettysburg. 

Frederick  Smoots,  K,  July  5,  1865  (R.)     Prisoner  at  Wilderness.     At  Andersonville. 
Several    who   were    mustered    out    with    the   regiment    had  just  returned   from  long 

captivity. 

UNACCOUNTED    FOR. 

John  Chandler,  A,  since  July  5,  1863. 
Philip  Weitz,  A,  since  July  3,  1863.     Wounded  July  i. 
Robert  Wortley,  A,  since  July  5,  1865.     Paroled  prisoner. 
Julius  Schultz,  A,     Missing  at  Wilderness  (R.) 


392  HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Albert  Thalon,  A.     Missing  at  Yellow  Tavern  (R.) 

Leander  Bauvere,  B,  since  Aug.  4,  1863.     Wounded  April  29. 

John  Hackett,  B,  since  Jan.  25,  1865.     Two  years  in  Battery. 

Franz  Koch,  B,  since  July  5,  1863.     Wounded  July  i. 

Richard  Ladore,  B,  since  May  23,  1864.     Wounded  at  North  Anna. 

Terrence  McCullough,  B,  since  July  I,  1863.     Wounded  same  day. 

John  McCrudden,  B.     On  furlough  in  Canada,  June  30,  1865. 

James  Tyrrell,  B.     In  hospital,  last  known. 

Conrad  Kocher,  D,  since  July  5,  1863.     Came  up  after  the  war. 

Hugh  Brady,  E.     Recruit.     Absent  sick,  last  known. 

Thomas  D.  Ellston,  E.     Left  hospital,  Sept  10,  1863.     Wounded  April  29. 

John  Frank,  E.     Wounded  at  Gettysburg  and  Laurel  Hill. 

Lewis  Grant,  E.     Prisoner  at  Gettysburg.     Enlisted  in  Navy. 

Joseph  Hirsch,  E.     Missing  at  Gettysburg.       Came  up  Oct.  23,  1863. 

William  Ringgold,  E.    (R.)    Wounded  at  North  Anna. 

Bozile  Vallade,  F.     (R.)     Wounded  at  Petersburg. 

John  M.  Evans,  F,  since  Jan.  20,  1863.     Enlisted  elsewhere. 

Thomas  McMahon  (R.),  G.     Absent  sick. 

George  E.  Walker,  G.     Missing  from  Battery,  Sept.  18,  1864. 

Thomas  Fitzgibbons,  H.      Paroled  prisoner  at  Gettysburg. 

Martin  K.  Donnelly,  H.     Missing  at  Cold  Harbor,  June  i,  1864. 

Joseph  Ruby,  H.     Wounded  at  Fitzhugh.     Missing  at  Gettysburg. 

Nicholas  Ruby,  H.     Missing  near  Weldon  R.  R.,  Sept.  i,  1864. 

Andrew  Stowell,  H.     Missing  at  Fredericksburg,  Dec.  14,  1862. 

Amos  Arnold  (R.),  H.     Wounded  and  absent  since  June  12,  1864. 

James  White  (R.),  H.     Wounded  Nov.  9,  1864. 

Morris  L.  Hoople,  H.     Wounded  at  Gettysburg.     Prisoner  Sept.  i,  1864. 

John  Donahue  (R.),  I.     No  record. 

Geo.  B.  F.  Green,  I.     Missing  at  King  George  C.  H.,  May  21,  1863. 

Daniel  Donahue  (R.),  I.     Absent  wounded  since  Aug.  18,  1864. 

Henry  Dumont  (R.),  K.     Absent  sick. 


LEFT  WITHOUT   LEAVE   AND   NEVER   RETURNED. 

ist  Lt.  MICHAEL  DEMPSEY,  A,  at  Annapolis  Hospital,  July  n,  1864. 

ist  Sergt.  B.  B.  Halstead,  A,  at  Belle  Plain,  Va.,  Jan.  20,  1863. 

Sergt.  Hyacinthe  Clark,  A,  on  furlough,  March  16,  1863. 

Sergt.  Gilman  Gilson,  A,  at  Belle  Plain,  Jan.  20,  1863. 

Dennis  Carroll,  A,  at  Belle  Plain,  Jan.  20,  1863. 

Charles  Conlisk,  A,  at  Camp  Wayne,  Sept.  9,  1862. 

Lewis  Cummings,  A,  at  Camp  Barns,  Aug.  27,  1862. 

Christopher  Daniels,  A,  at  Belle  Plain,  Jan.  20,  1863. 

Charles  Dubois,  A,  at  Camp  Shearer,  Sept.  29,  1862. 

Daniel  F.  Ellsworth,  A,  at  Belle  Plain,  Jan.  20,  1863. 

George  M.  Kemp,  A,  near  Falmouth,  Dec.  19,  1862. 

Stephen  Kavanaugh,  A,  at  Camp  Barns,  Aug.  29,  1862. 

Thomas  Mercer,  A,  at  Warrenton,  Va.,  Nov.  9,  1862. 

Alex.  G.  Picard,  A,  at  Camp  Shearer,  Sept.  29,  1862. 

John  Schlittler,  A,  on  furlough,  Feb.  10,  1863. 


RECORDS   OF   THE   SURVIVORS.  393 


Alexander  Stewart,  A,  at  Belle  Plain,  Jan.  20,  1863. 
Andrew  J.  Vinton  (R.),  A,  at  Camp  Butler,  April  4,  1865. 
John  R.  Donaldson,  B,  at  Belle  Plain,  Jan.  20,  1863. 
William  Hicks,  B,  at  Baltimore,  Sept.  i,  1862. 
William  Lloyd,  B,  at  Frederick,  Oct.  i,  1862. 
James  McKnight,  B,  at  Belle  Plain,  Jan.  20,  1863. 
Alonzo  C.  Mercer,  B,  at  Belle  Plain,  Jan.  7,  1863. 
Daniel  O'Beere,  B,  at  Camp  Barns,  Aug.  16,  1862. 
James  Pender,  B,  at  York  Hosp.,  May  24,  1863. 
Thomas  Potter,  B,  at  Camp  Barns,  Aug.  28,  1862. 
Andrew  Simmons,  B,  at  Belle  Plain,  Jan.  20,  1863. 
Edward  Flood  (R.),  B,  at  Camp  Butler,  May  12,  1865. 
John  O'Connor  (R.),  B,  at  Camp  Butler,  June.  1865. 
Samuel  Smith  (R.),  B,  at  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  Feb.  16,  1865. 
Charles  M.  Phillips  (R.),  C,  at  Camp  Butler,  April  7,  1865. 
Richard  Hamilton  (R.),  D,  at  Camp  Butler,  June  10,  1865. 
ist  Sergt.  John  Galloway,  E,  at  Frederick,  Md.,  Oct.  i,  1862. 
Sergt.  Timothy  Finn,  E,  at  Frederick,  Md.,  Oct.  i,  1862. 
Sergt.  Patrick  G.  Dollard,  E,  on  march  in  Pa  ,  July  6,  1863. 
Corp.  Michael  Finn,  E,  at  Frederick,  Md.,  Oct.  i,  1862. 
George  Brott,  E,  at  Alexandria,  Sept.  7,  1862. 
John  Dee,  E,  on  march  in  Pa.,  July  6,  1863. 
Joseph  Green,  E,  at  Camp  Barns,  Aug.  20,  1862. 
John  Hunt,  E,  at  White  Oak  Church,  Va.,  June  g,  1863. 
Fred  W.  Kuhn,  E,  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  Sept.  7,  1862. 
James  R.  Kernan,  E,  at  Camp  Barns,  Aug.  14,  1862. 
Clark  Ellis,  E,  at  Camp  Barns,  Aug.  26,  1862. 
John  McGeary,  E,  at  Camp  Barns,  Aug    29,  1862. 
William  Vent,  E,  at  Camp  Barns,  Aug.  23,  1862. 
John  Lee,  E,  on  march  in  Md.,  July  14,  1863. 
George  Nugent,  E,  on  march  in  Md.,  July  10,  1863. 
Michael  O'Neil,  E,  at  Washington,  Oct.  i,  1862. 
Cornelius  Mahoney  (R.),  E,  from  General  Hospital,  Jan.  25,  1865. 
Benj.  F.  Buyer,  F,  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  Feb.  i,  1863. 
John  Dougherty,  F,  at  Camp  Barns,  Aug.  17,  1862. 
Alexander  D.  Fales,  F,  at  Belle  Plain,  Va.,  Jan.  i,  1863. 
Adolph  Fritsch,  F,  on  furlough,  Feb.  2,  1864. 
Isaac  Nelson,  F,  at  Belle  Plain,  Jan.  i,  1863. 
Nathan  Smith,  F,  at  York  Hospital,  Oct.  8,  1863. 
William  K.  Yates,  F,  at  Washington,  Nov.  13,  1863. 
Oliver  Dubey  (R.),  F,  on  furlough,  August,  1864. 
Joseph  Jamieson  (R.),  F,  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  April  8,  1865. 
William  Kenney  (R.),  F,  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  March  17,  1865. 
Daniel  Munze,  G,  at  Camp  Barns,  Aug.  29,  1862. 
Thomas  M.  Smith,  (R.)  G,  while  on  furlough. 
Peter  Alterman,  H,  at  Camp  Barns,  Aug.  27,  1862. 
Mathew  Anderson  (R.),  H,  at  Camp  Butler,  June  6    1865. 
Ransom  J.  Fargo  (K.),  H,  on  furlough.  May  9,  1865. 
Corp.  William  Hunter,  H,  in   Maryland,  Oct.  26,  1862. 
P.  G.  Scanlon,  H,  at  Camp  Barns,  Aug.  28,  1862. 
(29) 


394  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Jay  Ferguson,  I,  at  Camp  Barns,  Aug.  29,  1862. 
Oliver  Gagnier,  I,  at  Frederick,  Md.,  June  20,  1863. 
Wm.  H.  H.  Dana,  K,  at  Camp  Wayne,  Sept.  7,  1862. 
Conrad  Springer,  K,  at  Gettysburg,  July,  1863. 

MUSTERED    OUT   WITH    THE    REGIMENT. 

This  list  includes  only  original  members  and  recruits  that  joined 
at  the  front,  together  with  eleven  who  joined  at  Springfield,  Illinois, 
and  who  had  become  non-commissioned  officers.  The  regiment  was 
mustered  out  at  Detroit,  Mich.,  June  30,  1865.  Those  who  had 
already  been  discharged  were,  at  the  time  of  their  discharge,  mostly  in 
the  various  hospitals  about  Washington,  Alexandria,  Philadelphia, 
Baltimore,  etc.,  as  well  as  in  those  in  the  field.  (R.)  signifies  recruit, 
and  (Spr.  R.),  Springfield  recruit. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  ALBERT  M.  EDWARDS. 

Major  WILLIAM  HUTCHINSON.  Asst.   Surgeon  EDWARD  LAUDERDALE. 

Adjt.  LEWIS  H.  CHAMBERLIN,  Chaplain  WILLIAM  C.  WAY. 

Surgeon  GEORGE  W.  TOWAR.  Quartermaster  DAVID  CONGDON. 

Sergt. -Major  Edward  B.  Chope,  (N.  C.  S.) 
Quartermaster-Sergt.  Sullivan  D.  Green,  (N.  C.  S.) 
Commissary-Sergt.,  Charles  H.  McConnell,  (N.  C.  S.) 
Hospital  Steward,  Owen  Churchill  (R.),  (N.  C.  S.) 
Principal  Musicians— Arthur  S.  Congdon  and  Edwin  Cotton,  (N.  C.  S.) 

Company  A. 

Captain  RICHARD  S.   DILLON. 
ist  Lieut.  ELMER  D.  WALLACE.  2d  Lieut.  GEORGE  DINGWALL. 

Sergeants — (i)  Alfred  Rentz  ;  (2)  Henry  Hanstine,  wounded  at  Petersburg;  (3)  Ignace 
Haltar,  wounded  at  Bethesda  Church  ;  (4)  George  A.  McDonald,  wounded  at 
Wilderness  ;  (5)  Barnard  Parish,  wounded  at  Petersburg. 

Corporals — (i)  Alexis  De  Claire,  prisoner  at  Wilderness;  in  Andersonville  ;  (2)  Stephen 
Prairie,  wounded  at  Petersburg  ;  (3)  William  Thompson,  with  colors  ;  (4)  Charles  W. 
Fuller,  prisoner  at  Wilderness;  in  Andersonville;  (5)  Max  Couture,  prisoner  at 
Gettysburg  ;  in  Andersonville  and  other  prisons,  18  months  ;  (6)  Thomas  D.  Harris 
(R.)  ;  (7)  James  Murphy,  wounded  near  Petersburg;  (8)  Charles  Fellrath,  wounded 
at  Laurel  Hill. 

William  H.  Blanchard,  prisoner  at  Wilderness  ;  in  Andersonville. 

Roderick  Broughton,  in  Ambulance  Corps,  20  months. 

Corp.  Peter  N.  Girardin,  wounded  and  prisoner  at  Gettysburg  ;    wounded  at  Wilderness. 

Sergt.  Frederick  A.  Hanstine,  wounded  at  Petersburg. 

Charles  Lature,  in  Commissary  Guard  one  year. 

Michael  Moren,  hostler  to  Surgeon  after  September,  1863. 

Nelson  Oakland  (wagoner),  injured  by  overturning  of  wagon. 

Robert  Phillips,  in  Battery  B  and  Provost  Guard,  18  months  ;  prisoner  at  Wilderness  ; 
in  Andersonville. 

Frank  Picard,  in  Battery  B  20  months  ;  wounded  at  Bethesda  Church. 


RECORDS   OF   THE   SURVIVORS.  395 

William  Rosseau  (wagoner),  on  provost  duty  18  months. 

Anthony  Sylvia,  nurse  in  hospital  several  months. 

Sergt.  Lewis  L.  Wadsworth,  paroled  prisoner  at  Gettysburg  ;    at  Headquarters  medical 

department,  Army  of  Potomac,    three  months  ;    in  Division  Guard,    nine  months  ; 

Brigade  Quartermaster's  clerk,  ten  months. 
Andrew  Wright,  in  Pioneer  Corps,  one  year. 
Peter  Desnoyer  (R.),  wounded  at  Wilderness. 

Recruits — Joseph  Affhalter,  Richard  M.  Burss,  Albert  Couture,  Joseph  Giesmaire,  John 
W.  Hodgetts,  John  Parish,  Peter  Roberts  and  John  Townsend. 

Company  B. 

Captain  EDWARD  B.  WILKIE. 

ist  Lieut.  ALONZO  EATON.  2d  Lieut.  CHARLES  H.  CHOPE. 

Sergeants— (i)  Robert  Gibbons,  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill,  May  12,  1864  ;  captured  Oct.  26, 
1864,  by  several  Confederates  whom  he  persuaded  to  enter  the  Union  lines  ;  in 
Brigade  Commissary  Department  four  months  ;  in  command  of  the  company  when  it 
came  home.  (2)  Christopher  Gero  ;  (3)  George  K.  Smith  (Spr.  R.) ;  (4)  Henry  Brown, 
in  Battery  B,  18  months. 

Corporals — (i)  George  F.  Higby,  color  guard,  May  3,  1864;  (2)  James  Morton  (R.)  ;  (3) 
William  J.  Keagle  (Spr.  R.) ;  (4)  Henry  Loss  (R.)  ;  (5)  William  H.  Emmons  (Spr.  R.); 
(6)  James  E.  Parker  (Spr.  R,) ;  (7)  Francis  O'Neil  (Spr.  R.)  ;  (8)  Charles  Bruskie  (R.) 

Anson  B.  Culver,  in  regimental  and  brigade  bands. 

Err  Cady,  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill;  prisoner  on  Weldon  R.  R.;  taken  to  Salisbury,  N.  C. 

Henry  R.  Bird  (R.),  drummer  ;  Edward  Carbey. 

Robert  Henry,  Corps  Headquarter's  Guard  over  two  years. 

James  Mcllhenny,  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

William  M.  Macard,  at  hospital  duty  most  of  his  time. 

Corp.  James  Roach,  in  Division  Headquarter's  Guard  over  a  year. 

Robert  H.  Collison  (R.),  wounded  at  Wilderness. 

Recruits — John  P.  Bell,  Darius  H.  Connor,  Louis  Champaigne,  Albert  Cooper,  Burkhardt 
Freund,  James  Grills,  Luther  Hemmingway,  William  Sullivan,  Lorenzo  D.  Smith 
and  Jacob  Smith. 

Company  C, 

Captain  JOHN  WITHERSPOON. 
ist  Lieut.  ALBERT  WILFORD.  2d  Lieut.  AUGUSTUS  POMEROY. 

Seargeants — (i)  Roswell  L.  Root,  wounded  at  Gettysburg  and  Laurel  Hill  ;  (2)  Alfred 
Noble,  orderly  at  Corps  Headquarter's  five  months  ;  (3)  Minot  S.  Weed,  in  Battery 
B  19  months  ;  (4)  William  U.  Thayer  ;  (5)  Color  Sergeant  Alvah  S.  Hill,  since  Feb. 
i,  1865  ;  he  brought  the  colors  home. 

Corporals — (i)  D.  Leroy  Adams,  prisoner  at  Gettysburg  ;  escaped  in  Virginia  on  road  to 
Richmond  ;  recaptured  by  enemy  ;  paroled  and  on  duty  at  Annapolis  Parole  Camp 
until  March  10,  1865  ;  claims  to  have  carried  the  colors  a  brief  time  at  Gettysburg. 
(2)  William  E.  Sherwood,  in  ambulance  corps  one  year ;  (3)  Charles  H.  Holbrook,  in 
ambulance  corps  17  months;  (4)  Frank  T.  Stewart,  with  colors;  wounded  at  Wilderness. 
(5)  Orson  Westfall,  in  Div.  Engineer  Corps  ;  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill.  (6)  Ralph  G. 
Terry,  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill  and  Petersburg  ;  (7)  Abraham  Velie,  wounded  at 
Fredericksburg  ;  in  Battery  B  19  months.  (8)  Nelson  Pooler,  prisoner  at  Wilderness; 
in  Andersonville. 

Joseph  McC.  Bale  (musician),  at  duty  in  Quartermaster's  Department  and  hospital. 


396  HISTORY  OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

James  T.  Gunsolly,  in  Battery  B  19  months. 

William  Kells,  wounded  at  Petersburg. 

Joshua  Minthorn,  prisoner  at  Gettysburg  ;  in  hospital  one  year. 

John  C.  Marshall,  prisoner  at  Gettysburg  ;  in  prisons  one  year. 

Charles  W.  Root,  prisoner  at  Gettysburg  ;  in  Andersonville  21  months. 

Sergt.  George  R.  Welsh,  Asst.  Commissary  Sergeant  10  months  ;  color  sergeant,  May  i, 

1864  ;  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill,  May  8. 
Sergt.  John  Hogan,  transferred  from  E. 
Recruits — James  Bourdon,  Arra  Cook,  Patrick  E.  English,  John  R.  Field,  Jerome  Heald, 

John   Hutchinson,   George  K.  Innes,    Reuben  W.    Page,  Charles  Rose,  George  W. 

Stebbins,  Theodore  W.  Swain,  James  L.  Stafford,  Oscar  St.  Johns,  James  L.  Sharp 

and  Amos  A.  Thompson. 

Company  D. 

Captain  GEORGE  W.   HAIGH. 
ist  Lieut.  GEORGE  W.  CHILSON.  2d  Lieut.  CHARLES  A.  KING. 

Sergeants  —  (i)  Oren  D.  Kingsley,  in  Div.  Com.  Guard,  ten  months;  (2)  Henry 
Babcock,  wounded  at  Gettysburg ;  (3)  Joseph  Funke ;  (4)  Alexander  Purdy, 
wounded  at  Laurel  Hill,  May  10,  1864;  (5)  Walter  Morley,  in  Provost  Guard  nine 
months  ;  Color  Corporal  May  3,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill  May  10  ;  wounded 
at  Dadney's  Mill,  Feb.  6,  1865. 

Corporals  —  (i)  Robert  C.  Bird,  wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Wilderness  and  Dabney's  Mill; 
(2)  William  Jackson,  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill;  (3)  John  B.  Turney,  in  Div. 
Provost  Guard;  (4)  Thomas  Hall;  (5)  John  Moody,  not  discharged  till  Aug.  21, 
1865;  (6)  James  N.  Bartlett,  wounded  at  Gettysburg;  in  Pioneer  Corps,  ten 
months;  (7)  George  L.  Packard,  in  hospital  19  months  from  loss  of  voice;  (8) 
Aldrich  Townsend,  wounded  at  Fitzhugh  Crossing  and  North  Anna. 

Abram  F.  Burden,  Brigade  Qrm.  Orderly,  21  months. 

Clark  Chase,  in  Battery  B  two  years. 

Sergt.  Isaac  L.  Greusel,  transferred  from  E. 

Almon  J.  Houston,  prisoner  at  Gettysburg  ;    in  rebel  prisons,  19  months. 

Merritt  B.  Heath,  prisoner  at  Gettysburg;  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill. 

John  H.  Kingsley,  in  "  Hospital  Detachment"  three  months. 

James  Lindsay,  Div.  Train  Guard,  Dec.  7,  1862  ;  Color  Guard,  Dec.  3,  1864. 

John  Orth,  in  Battery  B,  19  months  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Robert  Polk,  in  Ambulance  Corp,  17  months. 

George  P.  Roth,  in  "  Inv.  Detachment,"  10  months  ;  in  Andersonville  u  months. 

Corp.  John  Stange,  in  Div.  Train  Guard,  13  months  ;  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill. 

Corp.  Geo.  W.  Segar,  Hospital  duty  10  months  ;   wounded  at  Weldon  Railroad. 

Peter  Stack,  wounded-at  Gettysburg. 

Anthony  Thelan  (Fifer),  in  Div.  Train  Guard  15  months. 

Corp.  Jabez  Walker,  wounded  at  Gettysburg  ;  one  year  in  Com.  Dept. 

Corp.  George  Wetterich,  in  Qrm.  Dept.  and  Hospital  16  months. 

William  Biggsley  (R.),  wounded  at  Petersburg. 

William  Barrett  (R.),  wounded  at  Dabney's  Mill. 

George  Dolan  (R.),  wounded  at  Dabney's  Mill. 

A.  Brutus  Heig  (R.),  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill. 

Samuel  Reed  (R.),  wounded  at  Wilderness  ;  prisoner  at  Weldon  Railroad;  taken  to- 
Salisbury,  N.  C.,  prison  for  7  months. 


RECORDS   OF   THE    SURVIVORS.  397 

Recruits — Barney  Anderson,  Augustus  F.  Brousky,  Thomas  Baxter,  Allen  Brown, 
Thomas  Downing,  Reuben  E.  Glass,  John  L.  Gould,  Harvey  D.  Hale  and  James 
M.  Turing. 

Company  E. 

Captain  H.  REES  WHITING. 
ist  Lieut.  SAMUEL  W.  CHURCH.  2d  Lieut.  E.  BEN  FISCHER. 

Sergeants  —  (i)  Charles  D.  Durfee,  wounded  at  Gettysburg  ;  Volunteer  to  Color  Guard, 
Oct.  16,  1864 ;  transferred  from  C  to  E.  (2)  Henry  T.  Willaird  (R.)  ;  (3)  James  D. 
Jackson,  wounded  at  Gettysburg  ;  (4)  Harrison  M.  Dickey  (Spr.  R.);  (5)  William 
Kennell  (Spr.  R). 

Corporals — (i)  Charles  Leigh  (Spr.  R.);  (2)  Patrick  Coffee,  re-enlisted  ;  vol.  to  Color 
Guard,  May  3,  1864.  (3)  Patrick  Fury,  wounded  at  Bethesda  Church  ;  (4)  George 
Wolcott  (Spr.  R.);  (5)  James  L.  Ryan  (R.);  (6)  George  Ruby  (R.);  (7)  Charles  Salsbury 
(Spr.  R.);  (8)  Jonathan  W.  Crawford  (Spr.  R). 

Harvey  Allen — James  W.  Bullard  (wagoner). 

Sergt.  Moses  Amo,  wounded  and  prisoner  at  Gettysburg. 

Sidney  P.  Bennett,  no  record  except  mustered  out. 

Cornelius  Crimmins,  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill. 

James  Kidd  (fifer); — Sergt.  Frederick  W.  Wright. 

Hugh  Murphy,  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill. 

Henry  Moynahan,  wounded  in  Battery  B  at  Gettysburg. 

Andrew  Nelson,  in  Ammunition  Train  17  months. 

Nelson  Pelon,  prisoner  at  Gettysburg  ;  at  Headquarters  for  one  year. 

Corps.  John  Proctor,  William  Powers  and  Erskine  Wood. 

Robert  Reed,  in  Battery  B  and  Div.  Provost  Guard,  two  years,  nine  months. 

Henry  S.  Wood  (musician),  in  Brigade  Band  one  year. 

James  P.  Wood  (musician),  in  Brigade  Band  one  year. 

Recruits — Henry  E.  Bradley,  Dayton  Fuller,  Lewis  Hartman,  Nicholas  Hanning, 
Benjamin  Pettengill,  Ephraim  P.  Stratton,  Morgan  Steinbeck,  John  Talbot  and 
Ephraim  M.  Yaw. 

Company  F. 

Captain  GEORGE  A.  Ross, 
ist  Lieut.  AUGUSTUS  F.  ZIEGLER.         2d  Lieut.  JAMES  D.  SHEARER. 

Sergeants — (i)  Ransford  Wilcox,  in  band  16  months;  (2)  Herman  Krumback  (re-enlisted); 
(3)  David  H.  Campbell;  (4)  Shelden  E.  Crittenden,  captured  on  "Brooks'  Expedi 
tion"  and  taken  to  Andersonville  ;  (5)  Frank  T.  Shier,  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Corporals — (i)  Amos  B.  Cooley,  Color  Guard,  May  3,  1864  ;  wounded  at  Petersburg,  June 
18.  (2)  Anthony  Bondie,  wounded  at  Petersburg  ;  Sergeant,  July  12,  1864  ;  lost 
rank  from  sickness.  (3)  George  Krumback;  (4)  William  R.  Shier,  prisoner  at 
Gettysburg  ;  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill.  (5)  Frank  H.  Pixley,  wounded  at  Wilder 
ness  ;  (6)  Daniel  W.  Crane  (R.);  (7)  Allen  H.  Cady  (R.);  (8)  Silas  Ausunkerhin  (R.) 

William  ,W.  Graves  (musician), — Patrick  McGran  (wagoner). 

Patrick  Connelly,  wounded  at  Gettysburg  ;  prisoner  at  Wilderness. 

Corp.  James  Donavan,  prisoner  at  Gettysburg  ;  in  H,  E  and  F. 

Edward  Gohir,  in  Battery  B  19  months. 

Corp.  Charles  E.  Hale,  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Charles  E.  Jenner,  wounded  at  North  Anna  and  Dabney's  Mill. 

Sergt.  Norbert  Multhaupt. 


398  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Julius  A.  Reynolds  (wagon  master) ;  in  Quartermaster's  Department. 

Matthew  Wehrle,  on  duty  in  Division  Hospital  most  of  service. 

Recruits — Paul  Boutts,  Henry  Baker,  Charles  V.  Daniels,  Abel  A.  Doty,  John  S. 
Ensign,  William  W.  Griffin,  Joseph  Greusel,  Joseph  Gaffele,  Bird  H.  Hosmer, 
Leander  Herrick,  Anthony  Reno,  Adam  Oehring,  Henry  Oakes,  Frank  M.  Rose 
and  Franklin  Van  Schoick. 

Company  G. 

Captain  BENJAMIN  W.  HENDRICKS. 
ist  Lt.  FERDINAND  E.  WELTON.  2d  Lt.  AUGUSTUS  HUSSEY. 

Sergeants — (l)  Wm.  M.  McNoah;  (2)  Charles  Stoflet,  wounded  at  Wilderness  ;  (3)  Peter 
T.  Lezotte;  (4)  Peter  Euler;  (5)  Henry  Bierkamp,  prisoner  at  Gettysburg. 

Corporals — (i)  John  Broombar,  wounded  at  Gettysburg  ;  (2)  Samuel  Brown,  wounded 
in  Wilderness  ;  (3)  Julius  Lezotte  ;  (4)  George  W.  Wilson,  wounded  at  Dabney's 
Mill  ;  (5)  Thomas  Jackson;  (6)  Edwin  Martin;  (7)  Samuel  T.  Hendricks;  (8)  Joseph 
G.  Thompson. 

William  Young  (drummer);  —  Benj.  W.  Pierson  (wagoner). 

Peter  Batway,  in  battery  19  months;    wounded  at  Laurel  Hill  and  Dabney's  Mill. 

John  Butler,  paroled  prisoner  at  Gettysburg  ;  came  up  Oct.  5,  1863. 

Theodore  Bach,  in  battery  19  months  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Lyman  W.  Blakely,  in  Battery  B  22  months. 

John  Cole,  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

John  Cavanaugh,  paroled  prisoner  at  Gettysburg. 

Charles  Dennis,  in  Ammunition  Train  till  Feb.  12,  1865. 

Sidney  B.  Dixon  (musician),  in  Brigade  Band  one  year. 

Marion  Hamilton,  prisoner  at  Wilderness  ;  in  Andersonville. 

Michael  Hanrahan,  in  hospital  two  years. 

William  Jewell,  prisoner  at  Wilderness  ;  in  Andersonville. 

Lewis  W.  James, —  Charles  Martin. 

Douglas  M.  Page, —  Herman  Shultz. 

George  Oakley,  in  Battery  B  19  months. 

David  Valrance,  jr.,  in  Ammunition  Train  till  1865. 

Color  Corp.  William  Weiner,  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill. 

Henry  Bedford  (R.),  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill. 

Recruits — John  Baker,  George  Beresford,  Isaac  Conling,  Mathew  Cavanaugh,  John 
Casey,  David  Fox,  Daniel  Flemming,  James  Keenan,  Richard  Lennon,  John 
McPherson,  August  McKeever,  Henry  S.  Paris  and  Charles  Rhew. 

Company  H. 

Captain  EDWIN  E.  NORTON. 
ist  Lt.  EVERARD  B.  WELTON.  2d  Lt.  HUGH  F.  VANDERLIP. 

Sergeants — (i)  William  H.  Hoffman,  prisoner  at  Gettysburg  ;  wounded  at  Wilderness. 
(2)  John  Malcho ;  (3)  Robert  E.  Bolger,  wounded  at  Gettysburg ;  prisoner  at 
Weldon  Road  ;  at  Belle  Isle  and  Salisbury  prisons.  (4)  John  Langdon  ;  (5)  Jacob 
Whyse. 

Corporals — (r)  Charles  W.  Harrison  ;  (2)  Israel  Harris,  prisoner  at  Wilderness  ;  in 
Andersonville  ;  on  "  Steamer  Sultana,"  when  it  blew  up  on  the  Mississippi,  on  his 
journey  home.  (3)  Michael  Donavan,  wounded  at  Gettysburg  and  Wilderness. 
(4)  Robert  Morris,  in  battery  19  months.  (5)  Eli  French,  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 
(6)  Theodore  Grover,  in  battery  19  months  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg.  (7)  John 
Moynahan,  from  E  ;  wounded  at  Wilderness.  (8)  George  Moore  (R.) 


RECORDS   OF   THE   SURVIVORS.  399 

Charles  Bills,  wounded  near  Petersburg. 

August  Gilsbach,  prisoner  at  Weldon  Road. 

Sergt.  John  R.  King,  prisoner  at  Gettysburg  ;  at  Andersonville. 

Dennis  Mahoney,  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Alexander  H.  Morrison,  Mt'd  Orderly  at  Brigade  Hdqrs. 

John  Nollette,  in  Div.  Eng.  Corps  two  years. 

A.  Wilder  Robinson,  served  in  Battery  B. 

Andrew  J.  Stevens,  in  Brigade  Com.  Dept.  one  year. 

John  Steele,  in  Ambulance  Corps  one  year. 

Albert  Sons  (musician),  in  Brigade  Band  one  year. 

Corp.  William  C.  Young. 

Recruits — Apollos  Austin,  Uriah  Caesar,  James  L.  Colligan,  John  Reeder,  Harlem  S. 
Sherwood  and  Edwin  Sharai. 

Company  I. 

Captain  GEORGE  C.  GORDON. 
ist  Lieut.  EDGAR  A.  KIMMEL.  2d  Lieut.  WILLIAM  M.  McNoAH. 

Sergeants — (i)  William  E.  Thornton  ;  (2)  Joseph  U.  B.  Hedger,  to  Color  Guard  May  3, 
1864;  wounded  and  prisoner  May  5,  in  Wilderness  ;  (3)  Gilbert  Rhoades  ;  (4) 
William  D.  Murray,  wounded  at  Gettysburg  ;  (5)  David  M.  Tillman,  prisoner  at 
Gettysburg. 

Corporals  —  (i)  John  L.  Stringham,  wounded  at  Fitzhugh  Crossing;  (2)  William  W. 
Coon,  wounded  at  Gettysburg  and  Laurel  Hill  ;  (3)  John  C.  Morehouse  (R.);  (4) 
Charles  A.  Kinney;  (5)  Lewis  Gautherat  (wagoner);  (6)  Abner  D.  Porter  (R.);  (7) 
William  Vandervoort;  (8)  Samuel  F.  Cromer. 

Henry  C.  Stoddard  (drummer).     Francis  R.  Ward  (Musician). 

Alonzo  F.  Anscomb  (wagoner). 

Francis  Hynds,  wounded  at  Gettysburg  and  Weldon  Road. 

Palmer  Rhoades,  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Anselm  Ball  (R.),  wounded  at  Petersburg. 

Recriiits — James  Anderson,  Stephen  Flynn,  William  T.  Keays,  James  Miller,  Lewis 
McDaniels,  Richard  Taylor,  George  P.  Vorce  and  Henry  B.  Vorce. 

Company  K. 

Captain  WILLIAM   R.  DODSLEY. 
ist  Lieut.  SHEPHERD  L.  HOWARD.  2d  Lieut.  IRA  W.  FLETCHER. 

Sergeants  —  (i)  Thomas  Saunders,  wounded  at  Gettysburg;  (2)  William  D.  Lyon, 
wounded  at  Gettysburg  and  Laurel  Hill  ;  (3)  Barney  J.  Litogot,  wounded  at 
Gettysburg  and  Wilderness  ;  (4)  Jacob  M.  Van  Riper,  wounded  at  Gettysburg  and 
Laurel  Hill ;  (5)  Lilburn  A.  Spaulding,  carried  colors  at  Gettysburg  for  a  time  ;  on 
Recruiting  Service  one  year. 

Corporals  —  (i)  Franklin  A.  Blanchard,  prisoner  at  Gettysburg  ;  (2)  Johathan  Jamieson, 
wounded  at  Bethesda  Church  ;  (3)  Frank  Kellogg,  in  Battery  19  months,  on  Color 
Guard  ;  (4)  John  R.  Brown,  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill  ;  (5)  Isaac  I.  Green,  wounded 
at  Wilderness  ;  (6)  Andrew  J.  Nowland,  wounded  at  Gettysburg  ;  (7)  William  L. 
Condit  (R.);  (8)  Henry  L.  Morse. 

Webster  A.  Wood  (musician).     Martin  Cole. 
William  J.  Chase,  wounded  at  Wilderness. 


4OO 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH  MICHIGAN 


George  H.  Dewey,  in  hospital  18  months. 
Charles  Gaffney,  wounded  at  Wilderness. 
Henry  Hoisington,  wounded  at  Mine  Run. 
Artemas  Hosmer,  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill. 
George  Kipp,  wagoner  in  Div.  Supply  Train. 
Elijah  Little,  wounded  at  Laurel  Hill. 
John  A.  Pattee,  in  Battery  B  18  months. 
Sherman    Rice,    wounded  at   Gettysburg   by 

throwing  it  several  rods  against  Rice. 
Corp.  John  McDermott,  in  Battery  19  months 
Recruits — Alanson    Cain,    Malhew    Frankish, 


solid   shot   striking    top   rail   of   fence, 


wounded  Aug.  19,  1864. 

Chauncey    M.    Griffith,    Anson    Miller, 


Reuben   Merrill,   jr.,    Henry   Nowland,  John 
Smith,  Edwin  Vesey  and  John  Vietz. 


M.    Reese,  Sylvester  Riggs,   Henry 


WASHINGTON'S  TOMB. 


MICHIGAN  DAY  AT  GETTSYBURG. 


GENERAL   BYRON   R.    PIERCE. 

(President  of  the  Day.) 


COLONEL  SAMUEL  E.   PITTMAN. 

(Officer  of  the  Day.) 


GENERAL  LUTHER  S.  TROWBRIDGE. 

(Delivered  Address  on  Michigan  Troops 
at  Gettysburg.) 


REV.   JAMES  H.    POTTS,   D.  D. 

(Delivered  Memorial  Address.) 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


MICHIGAN  DAY  AT  GETTYSBURG. 


IMPORTANCE  OF  THE  BATTLE  —  NATIONAL  CEMETERY. 

GETTYSBURG  was  the  greatest  conflict  of  the  Civil  War. 
On  no  other  of  the  many  battlefields  of  that  four  years' 
struggle  was  there  such  equality  of  numbers,  or  greater 
strategic  issues  at  stake ;  troops  from  more  States,  on  either 
side,  or  greater  valor  displayed  on  both  sides;  more  bloodshed  or  a 
greater  number  of  casualties.  Gettysburg  not  only  marked  the 
recession  of  the  highest  tide  of  the  Rebellion,  but  it  formed  an  epoch 
in  the  history  of  the  ages,  and  will  ever  be  classed  among  the  few 
decisive  battles  of  the  world,  with  Arbela,  Cheronea,  Pharsalia  and 
Waterloo.  It  was  the  only  battle  fought  on  Northern  soil,  not 
mentioning  South  Mountain  and  Antietam  the  year  before,  fought  in 
the  border  slave  State  of  Maryland.  At  the  time  of  the  battle  a 
motion  was  pending  in  the  British  parliament  for  the  recognition  of 
the  Southern  Confederacy.  Upon  the  first  intelligence  from  America 
of  the  results  of  that  battle,  the  above  motion  was  indefinitely 
postponed,  and  thus  all  prospect  of  foreign  intervention,  the  only 
hope  of  Confederate  success,  was  forever  lost. 

More  attention  has  been  paid  to  the  issues  involved,  the  details, 
strategic  movements,  plans  and  results  of  this  battle  than  many 
others.  It  was  recognized  at  once  by  both  sides  in  the  struggle  and 
by  disinterested  foreigners,  as  the  most  important  battle  that  far,  and 
in  a  few  months  was  made  conspicuous  from  other  fields  by  a  national 
dedication  in  which  President  Lincoln  delivered  the  epic  which  will 
be  as  lasting  as  his  fame.  For  three  days  the  contending  hosts 
fought  and  40,000  men  lay  dead  and  wounded  on  the  field.  Of  the 
400  Union  regiments,  all  of  which  distinguished  themselves  for  valor 
there,  Detroit  sent  forth  the  one  which  suffered  the  greatest  number 
of  casualties.  According  to  "Fox's  Book  of  Regimental  Losses," 
this  melanchory  honor  belongs  to  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan 
Infantry  of  the  Iron  Brigade. 

The  Union  dead  at  Gettysburg  were  buried  in  trenches,  and 
wherever  convenient,  after  the  battle.  Later,  a  tract  of  seventeen 

(403) 


404  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

acres  on  Cemetery  Hill,  south  of  the  town  and  adjoining  the  village 
(Evergreen)  burial  ground,  was  purchased  for  a  soldiers'  national 
cemetery.  The  removal  of  the  Federal  dead  thereto  began  October 
17,  1863,  and  consumed  five  months.  This  national  cemetery  was 
dedicated  November  19,  1863,  when  President  Lincoln  delivered  his 
singularly  impressive  address  which  succinctly  stated  the  whole  issues 
of  the  war,  and  will  ever  be  a  most  wonderful  American  classic. 

In  1864,  the  Michigan  Legislature,  in  unison  with  the  action  of 
other  loyal  States,  appropriated  $3,500  for  the  improvements  of  the 
cemetery  and,  in  1865,  $2,500  for  completing  them  and  keeping  it  in 
repair.  Union  soldiers  from  eighteen  States  are  there  buried.  A 
national  monument  sixty  feet  high  occupies  the  crown  of  the  hill, 
around  which,  in  semi-circular  slopes,  are  arranged  the  graves.  Alleys 
and  State  dividing-walks  separate  the  grounds  into  twenty-two 
sections;  one  for  the  regular  army,  one  for  each  State,  and  three  for 
the  "  unknown  dead."  The  graves  are  uniformly  graded,  and  the 
headstones  of  equal  size,  nine  inches  above  ground  and  ten  inches  of 
upper  surface  for  inscription  of  name,  company  and  regiment.  Just 
inside  the  cemetery  entrance  stands  a  colossal  bronze  statue  of 
General  Reynolds,  on  monument  base,  erected  by  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania. 

The  cemetery  is  a  most  beautiful  place,  the  national  monument 
and  grounds  costing  $150,000.  It  contains  3,583  graves  of  soldiers, 
979  of  whom  have  only  the  word  "unknown"  for  their  epitaph. 
Michigan  stands  third  in  the  number  slain  and  first  in  rank  of 
population.  The  Michigan  lot  contains  172  known  dead.  The 
frequent  names  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  are  seen  among  them. 
The  rest  lie  in  the  "  unknown  "  lot,  except  such  as  were  removed  by 
friends  to  burial  grounds  at  home.  Rev.  Dr.  Potts,  in  his  memorial 
address  there,  truly  said:  "It  is  an  honor  to  rest  on  such  a  spot  as 
this.  I  could  wish  no  higher  honor  for  my  mortal  frame  than  to  be 
laid  by  my  comrades  in  this  beautiful  retreat." 

THE    MICHIGAN   MONUMENTS. 

A  few  years  ago  the  Second  Massachusetts  Infantry  erected  on 
Gulp's  Hill,  where  it  fought,  a  monument  to  its  dead.  The  plan  thus 
originated,  of  marking  with  monuments,  the  positions  of  regiments 
on  that  battlefield,  was  first  adopted  by  that  State,  and  soon  other 
States  emulated  the  good  example,  until  300  monuments  may  be  seen 
on  the  field,  erected  by  the  States  under  the  auspices  of  the 


TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN    MONUMENT   AT   GETTYSBURG. 
ERECTED    BY   THE   BTATK   OF   MICHIGAN. 


MICHIGAN   DAY   AT   GETTYSBURG.  407 

"  Gettysburg  Battlefield  Memorial  Association,"  who  have  purchased 
sites  and  avenues  along  the  battle  lines. 

In  1887,  the  Michigan  Legislature  appropriated  $20,000  for  the 
erection  of  its  monuments  there.  Colonel  Geo.  G.  Briggs  (Seventh 
Michigan  Cavalry),  Lieutenant  George  W.  Crawford  (Sixth  Michigan 
Cavalry)  and  Lieutenant  Peter  Lennon  (Fifth  Michigan  Infantry), 
were  appointed  a  commission  by  the  Governor  to  expend  the 
appropriation.  They  paid  $2,500  to  the  Battlefield  Association  for  a 
conveyance  of  all  privileges  needed  to  protect  Michigan's  interests  on 
the  field.  They  served  without  compensation  and  were  able  to  set 
apart  $1,350  to  each  of  the  eleven  regiments  for  its  monument,  $1,000 
to  the  battery  and  $500  to  the  four  sharpshooter  companies. 

In  the  spring  of  1889  the  monuments  were  completed  and  located 
as  follows:  First  Infantry,  between  the  Wheatfield  and  Emmetsburg 
Road;  Third  Infantry,  in  the  Peach  Orchard;  Fourth  Infantry,  in 
the  Wheatfield ;  Fifth  Infantry,  in  the  woods  west  of  the  Wheatfield  ; 
Seventh  Infantry,  near  the  Clump  of  Trees  where  Pickett  charged ; 
Sixteenth  Infantry  and  Sharpshooters,  on  Little  Round  Top  ; 
Twenty-fourth  Infantry,  in  McPherson's  Woods  (now  called  Reynolds' 
Grove);  Battery  I,  on  Cemetery  Ridge;  and  the  First,  Fifth,  Sixth 
and  Seventh  Cavalry,  east  of  the  town  where  the  cavalry  fight 
occurred. 

The  monument  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  is  situated  in  the 
western  part  of  McPherson's  Woods,  where  its  first  battle  line  was 
formed  after  driving  the  remnant  of  Archer's  Brigade  across 
Willoughby  Run.  It  is  quite  elaborate  and  compares  favorably  with 
the  other  monuments.  The  following  are  its  dimensions: 

1st  Base — 5  ft.  by  5  ft.  by  14  in.,  one  stone,  Woodbury  granite. 
2d  Base — 3  ft.  8  in.  by  3  ft.  8  in.  by  15  in.,  one  stone,  Barre  granite. 
Die  —  2  ft.  8  in.  by  2  ft.  8  in.  by  3  ft.,  one  stone,  Barre  granite. 
Plinth  —  2  ft.  4  in.  by  2  ft.  4  in.  by  25  in.,  one  stone,  Barre  granite. 

Statue — 7  ft.  high  (soldier  with  hat  on  in  act  of  loading  a  musket),  Hardwick  Granite. 

Total  Height —  14  ft.  6  in.     Monument  faces  nearly  west. 

WEST  FACE — FRONT.  On  2d  Base — "  ist  (Iron)  Brig.,  ist  Div.,  ist  Corps,"  on 
raised  and  polished  panel.  On  Die — "  Corps  Badge, "  raised  and  polished;  "Cross 
Flags"  cut  in  relief;  "24th  Michigan"  in  raised  and  polished  letters.  On  Plinth  — 
"  Bronze  Plate,"  18  in.  by  18  in.;  "  Michigan  State  Coat  of  Arms." 

SOUTH  FACE  —  LEFT.  On  Plinth  —  "  Iron  Brigade  Badge,"  raised  and  polished. 
On  Die  —  Polished  panel  on  which  is  cut  the  following  inscription  : 

"July  ist,  1863.  Arrived  upon  the  field  to  the  south  of  these  woods  in  the 
forenoon  of  July  ist.  This  Regiment  with  others  of  the  Brigade  (2d  and  yth  Wisconsin 
and  igth  Indiana),  charged  across  the  stream  in  front  (Willoughby  Run)  to  the  crest 
beyond,  assisting  in  the  capture  of  a  large  portion  of  Archer's  Tennessee  Brigade.  It 


408  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

was  then  withdrawn  to  this  position,  where  it  fought  until  the  line  was  outflanked   and 
forced  back." 

EAST  FACE — REAR.  On  Plinth — "  Corps  Badge,"  raised  and  polished.  On  Die 
—  Polished  panel  upon  which  appears  the  remainder  of  the  inscripticn  as  follows  : 

OFFICERS.  MEN.  TOTAL. 

"  It  went  into  action  with         ...               28  468  496 

"  It  lost,  killed  and  mortally  wounded,        .8  81  89 

"Otherwise  wounded,     ....               13  205  218 

"Captured, 3  53  56 

Total  casualties,     .........       363 

"  Five  Color  Bearers  were  killed  and  all  the  Color  Guard  were  killed  or  wounded. 
Position  July  2d  and  3d,  on  Gulp's  Hill.  The  Regiment  was  raised  in  Wayne  Co., 
Mich.,  and  mustered  into  the  U.  S.  Service,  August  15,  1862.  Mustered  out  at  Detroit, 
June  30,  1865." 

NORTH  FACE — RIGHT.  On  Plinth — "Brigade  Badge,"  raised  and  polished. 
On  Die  —  Polished  panel. 

The  monument  was  made  by  the  Ryegate  Granite  Co.  of  South  Ryegate,  Vermont, 
and  cost  $1,350. 

DEDICATION. 

Upon  the  completion  of  the  monuments,  Governor  Luce  invited 
representatives  of  the  Michigan  organizations  engaged  in  the  battle, 
to  meet  at  Lansing  on  March  27,  1889,  to  arrange  for  their  dedication. 
Hon.  Robert  E.  Bolger,  O.  B.  Curtis,  Chaplain  Wm.  C.  Way  and 
Gurdon  L.  Wight  attended  on  behalf  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan. 
Governor  Luce  presided.  Wednesday,  June  I2th,  1889,  was  selected 
for  "  Michigan  Day  at  Gettysburg."  The  Governor  appointed  the 
following  committees  : 

Program  —  Generals  L.  S.  Trowbridge,  B.  R.  Pierce  and  S.  S.  Mathews. 
Flowers  —  O.  B.  Curtis,  Wilbur  Howard  and  Captain  H.  N.  Moore. 
Transportation  —  General  S.  B.  Daboll,  Colonels  E.  C.  Fox  and  F.  E.  Farnsworth. 
Legislation  —  General  B.  F.  Partridge,  O.  B.  Curtis  and  Robert  E.  Bolger. 

The  legislature  appropriated  $8,OOO  for  the  dedication,  $5,000  of 
which  was  to  be  devoted  to  the  transportation  of  the  Michigan 
survivors  of  the  battle.  The  share  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan 
was  inadequate,  and  as  it  was  Detroit's  regiment  whose  enlistment 
redeemed  the  good  name  of  the  city  in  its  darkest  hour,  it  was 
resolved  to  ask  the  citizens  to  aid  its  regiment  to  revisit  the  field  on 
which  they  had  won  an  honored  name  for  themselves  and  their  city. 
The  responses  were  generous  and,  with  the  sum  received  from  the 
appropriation,  sufficient  to  furnish  free  transportation  to  all  the 


CAPTAIN    WILLIAM    II.    DODSLKY*. 


LIEUTENANT   EVEHARD   B.    WELTON. 


LIEUTENANT  CHARLES  H.   CHOPE. 


MICHIGAN  DAY  AT  GETTYSBURG.  411 

survivors    of     the     regiment    who     fought    there.      The     following 
contributed  the  fund : 

Hon.  James  McMillan,  D.  M.  Ferry  &  Co.,  Hon.  C.  H.  Buhl,  Hon.  James  F.  Joy, 
Captain  W.  G.  Vinton.  Lieutenant  C.  C.  Yemans,  M.  S.  Smith,  F.  Hecker,  H.  C.  Parke, 
Wm.  A.  Butler,  J.  L.  Hudson,  Mabley  &  Co.,  Globe  Tobacco  Co.,  S.  J,  Murphy,  Bagley 
&  Co.,  Walter  Buhl,  S.  D.  Elwood,  S.  D.  Miller,  A..  C.  McGraw  &  Co.,  Allen  Shelden, 
Hon.  J.  S.  Farrand,  Hon.  Alanson  Sheley,  Hon.  M.  H.  Chamberlain,  Detroit  Stove  Co., 
Sidney  B.  Dixon,  R.  W.  Gillett,  Ralph  Phelps,  W.  J.  Chittenden,  A.  G.  Lindsay,  A.  M. 
Steele,  E.  Chope,  Phelps,  Brace  &  Co.,  A.  Chapaton,  Boydell  Bros.,  E.  Ferguson,  A.  H. 
Dey,  Vail  &  Crane,  Emory  Wendell,  F.  G.  Smith  &  Sons,  John  R.  Fiske,  R.  H.  Fyfe, 
A.  Ives,  Jr.,  R.  &  Bro.,  Wright,  Kay  &  Co.,  O.  W.  Shipman  and  T.  E  McDonough. 

The  following  appointments  were  made  by  the  Twenty-fourth 
Michigan  for  the  Gettysburg  excursion  : 

Commander — Captain  William  R.  Dodsley. 

Assistants — Lieutenants  E.  B.  Welton  and  Chas.  H.  Chope. 

Quartermaster  —  Thomas  A.  Wadsworth. 

To  Carry  Regimental  Flag — Charles  D.  Durfee. 

To  Carry  Iron  Brigade  Flag  —  Alexander  H.  Morrison. 

These  flags  had  been  carried,  respectively,  by  these  veterans,  for 
a  time  during  the  war.  The  Iron  Brigade  Flag,  the  presentation  of 
which  to  the  Brigade  is  given  in  Chapter  X,  had  been  brought  from 
Madison,  Wis.,  and  attracted  much  attention. 

Hurrying  along  the  streets  of  Detroit,  on  Monday,  June  10,  1889, 
with  G.  A.  R.  badges  and  blue  suits,  were  several  hundred  survivors 
of  the  different  Michigan  regiments  that  had  taken  part  in  the 
Gettysburg  battle,  who  had  gathered  for  their  departure  to  the 
dedication  ceremonies. 

About  six  o'clock  in  the  evening  Arthur  S.  Congdon  of  Chelsea, 
the  old  bugler  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  blew  a  familiar  call 
from  his  battered  instrument,  on  the  old  Antisdel  House  steps  on 
Michigan  avenue,  at  which  several  score  of  veterans  dressed  on  the 
flags  in  the  street,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Wm.  R.  Dodsley. 
Detroit  G.  A.  R.  Post  No.  384  was  present,  besides  the  six  Detroit 
companies  of  State  troops,  headed  by  their  regimental  band,  as 
escorting  organizations  to  the  cars.  The  column  was  joined  by  the 
cavalry  contingent  which  sedately  marched  to  the  depot.  It  was  the 
supper  hour,  and  the  tens  of  thousands  were  not  present  who  lined 
the  streets  upon  the  departure  of  the  Twenty-fourth  for  the  war 
twenty-seven  years  before. 


412  HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN 

The  train  consisted  of  six  day  coaches,  five  sleepers,  one  private 
sleeper  and  a  baggage  car,  in  which  were  a  number  of  large  packing 
boxes  filled  with  Michigan  flowers.  Slowly  the  train  moved  around 
the  city,  taking  on  a  ton  of  flowers  at  West  Detroit,  brought  by  the 
trains  from  the  interior  towns  of  the  State.  The  trip,  occupying  two 
nights  and  one  day,  via  Toledo  and  Wheeling,  over  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  route,  was  of  the  usual  interesting  excursion  kind.  Badges  were 
distributed  —  blue  to  the  infantry,  yellow  to  the  cavalry  and  red  to 
the  artillery.  The  hills  of  West  Virginia  appeared  like  old 
acquaintances  and  reminded  the  men  of  many  a  hard  march  in,  as 
well  as  on,  the  "sacred  soil." 

By  daybreak  of  June  12,  the  Michigan  veterans  and  people  had 
all  arrived,  about  1,000.  An  old  war  time  rain  storm  had  centered 
over  the  town  and  continued  until  midday,  which  destroyed  the 
procession  feature  of  the  dedication.  A  large  rink  was  secured,  in 
which  gathered  about  2,000  people  to  listen  to  the  following  program 
of  exercises : 

i.  Music  by  the  Band.  2.  Prayer  by  Chaplain  Wm.  C.  Way.  3.  Loyal  Song  by 
Glee  Club.  4.  Address  on  "  Michigan  Troops  in  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg,"  by  General 
L.  S.  Trowbridge.  5.  Song,  "Michigan,  my  Michigan,"  by  Glee  Club.  6.  Address 
and  Presentation  of  Monuments  to  the  Governor  of  Michigan,  by  Colonel  George  G. 
Briggs.  7.  Response  and  Presentation  of  Monuments  to  the  Battlefield  Association,  by 
Governor  Cyrus  G.  Luce.  8.  Response  by  Hon.  Edward  McPherson  of  Gettysburg. 
9.  "  The  Soldier's  Dream,"  by  the  Band.  10.  Song,  "  Blest  be  the  Ground,"  by  Glee 
Club.  ii.  Memorial  Address,  by  Michigan's  War  Governor,  Hon.  Austin  Blair.  12. 
Hymn,  America.  13.  Benediction,  by  Rev.  J.  H.  Potts. 

The  speeches  were  able  and  full  of  patriotic  expressions.  General 
Trowbridge.  had  creditable  words  for  each  of  the  Michigan  regiments 
there  engaged,  and  referred  to  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  in  the 
following  terms : 

"  When  the  First  Corps  came  on  the  field  on  the  morning  of  the  ist,  among  the 
first  to  be  thrust  into  the  baptism  of  fire  was  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan.  Comparisons 
upon  such  an  occasion  as  this  are  out  of  place,  and  yet  it  will  not  be  improper  to  say 
that  on  no  battlefield  of  the  war  was  there  greater  heroism  shown  than  by  that  regiment 
on  that  day.  Confronted  by  vastly  superior  numbers,  with  most  stubborn  courage  it 
maintained  its  ground  until  more  than  half  its  numbers  lay  dead  or  wounded  on  the 
bloody  field.  The  loss  was  very  great,  but  the  emergency  was  great.  Hours  were  most 
precious,  and  the  check  thus  given  to  the  enemy  permitted  the  concentration  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  and  rendered  possible  the  great  victory  of  the  third  day." 

Announcements  of  reunions  were  made  at  the  close,  usually  that 
the  survivors  would  meet  at  their  separate  monuments  in  the  afternoon, 
"  rain  or  shine,"  where  each  was  dedicated  with  appropriate  exercises. 


O.   B     CURTIS. 

(Chairman  Committee  on  Decoration.) 


HON.    ROBERT   B.    BOLGER. 

(Chairman  Committee  on  Legislation.) 


SERGEANT  S.    T>.  GREEN,  (N.  C.  S.) 

(War  Correspondent  of  Detroit  Free  Press.) 


SERGEANT  ROBERT  GIBBONS. 

(Of  History  Committee.) 


MICHIGAN   DAY   AT   GETTYSBURG.  415 

For  a  full  account  of  all  the  proceedings,  general  and  regimental,  on 
this  day,  we  refer  our  readers  to  the  book  of  the  events  compiled  by 
General  Trowbridge  called  "  Michigan  at  Gettysburg." 

The  survivors  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  assembled  at  four 
o'clock  in  front  of  the  Eagle  Hotel  on  the  public  square,  about  the 
same  in  number  as  rallied  around  their  flag  on  Gulp's  Hill  the  night 
of  the  first  day's  fight.  They  were  formed  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Wm.  R.  Dodsley  and  marched  through  the  mud  and  rain  to 
the  rink.  Captain  Warren  G.  Vinton  presided  and  Lieutenant  C.  C. 
Yemans  offered  a  brief  prayer  in  the  absence  of  the  Chaplain.  Major 
Edwin  B.  Wight  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  then  delivered  the  Address  of 
Dedication,  at  the  close  of  which  all  united  in  singing  the  "  Sweet 
Bye-and-Bye,"  in  memory  of  our  fallen  comrades.  The  occasion  was 
one  of  sorrow  and  meditation.  The  men  were  carried  back  to  a 
terrible  day  in  July,  twenty-six  years  before,  when  the  very  ground 
where  they  were  shook  from  artillery  firing  in  the  greatest  battle  of 
the  age. 

The  idea  of  decorating  the  graves  with  Michigan  flowers 
originated  with  the  writer  of  these  pages,  whom  Governor  Luce 
appointed  Chairman  of  the  Floral  Committee.  An  appeal  was  made 
to  the  Michigan  schools  and  a  responsive  chord  was  touched  which 
brought  flowers  from  every  county  except  the  far  north  woods  where 
vegetation  was  not  yet  sufficiently  advanced  in  the  growth  of  nature's 
jewels.  The  flowers  were  conveyed  free  to  the  battlefield,  where  they 
arrived  in  good  condition.  For  five  hours  the  committee  worked  in 
the  rain,  arranging  the  flowers  on  the  173  Michigan  graves,  each  of 
which  was  marked  with  a  Union  flag.  The  rain  brought  out 
beautifully  the  national  colors  and  nature's  tints  on  the  green  sward 
above  the  heroic  sleepers,  which  was  carpeted  with  brilliant  Michigan 
flowers. 

The  tender  messages  tied  to  the  flowers  proved  that  the  bullet 
which  destroyed  a  soldier's  life  sped  on  to  some  loving  heart  in  the 
far  away  North.  "  Place  this  upon  my  grandpa's  grave.  I  never  saw 
him."  "Put  this  upon  my  dear  son's  grave"  —and  so  read  the 
requests  which  were  all  carried  out  amid  the  prevailing  rain  storm, 
except  one  whose  grave  could  not  be  found.  The  tribute  was  tossed 
over  upon  the  "unknown"  lot  in  hopes  it  might  by  chance  fall  upon 
the  right  grave.  And  so  this  sad  duty  was  performed. 

Citizens  from  the  village  desired  to  see  the  Michigan  flowers. 
"There  they  are,"  said  the  keeper  of  the  cemetery,  "and  they  are 
the  finest  lot  of  flowers  ever  brought  here." 


416 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


The  grave  of  old  John  Burns  was  also  suitably  decorated  by 
comrades  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  as  it  was  in  the  Iron  Brigade 
that  he  did  his  fighting.  At  the  evening  camp  fire  at  the  rink, 
Rev.  J.  H.  Potts  delivered  a  most  eloquent  address  in  memory  of  the 
Gettysburg  dead. 


VISITING    COMRADES. 


The  following  survivors  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  attended 
the  Dedication  of  the  Monuments  at  Gettysburg,  June  12,  1889: 


Col.  A.  M.  EDWARDS, 
Major  E.  B.  WIGHT, 
Capt.  W.  G.  VINTON, 
Capt.  CHARLES  A.  HOYT, 
Capt.  J.  M.  FARLAND, 
Capt.  GEO.  W.  BURCHELL, 
Capt.  WM.  R.  DODSLEY, 
Chaplain  WM.  C.  WAY, 
Lieut.  E.  B.  WELTON, 
Lieut.  ALBERT  WILFORD, 
Lieut.  CHAS.   C.  YEMANS, 
Lieut.  CHAS.  H.  CHOPE, 
Lieut.  AUGUSTUS  POMEROY, 
(N.C.  S.)  A.  S.  CONGDON, 
(N.  C.  S.)  S.  D.  GREEN. 

Company  A. 
Solomon  S.  Benster, 
Roderick  Broughton, 
William  C.  Bates, 
John  S.  Coy, 
Alexis  Declaire, 
George  W.  Dingman, 
Ignace  Haltar, 
Charles  Latour, 
George  A.  M  cores, 
Barnard  Parish, 
Alfred  Rentz, 
Augustus  R.  Sink, 
Herman  Stehfest, 
Thomas  A.  Wadsworth. 

Company  B. 
Andrew  J.  Arnold, 
Henry  R.  Bird, 
Richard  Connors, 
Christopher  Gero, 
George  H.  Graves, 
James  Hanmer, 


James  Mcllhenny, 
Charles  D.  Minckler, 
William  Smith, 
Morris  Troutt, 
Jeston  R.  Warner. 

Company  C. 
D.  Leroy  Adams, 
John  W.  Babbitt, 
Norman  Collins, 
Chas.  H.  Cogswell, 
Watson  W.  Eldridge, 
James  Gillespie, 
Charles  H.  Holbrook, 
Aiken  Holloway, 
Asa  Joy, 
Ambrose  Roe, 
Willard  Roe, 
Roswell  L.  Root, 
Charles  W.  Root, 
Ralph  G.  Terry, 
Robert  Towers, 
Orson  Westfall, 
Minot  S.  Weed. 

Company  D. 
Amos  Abbott, 
James  V.  Bartlett, 
Robert  C.  Bird, 
O.  B.  Curtis, 
Draugott  Haberstrite, 
Almon  J.  Houston, 
James  H.  Johnson, 
William  H.  Jackson, 
Jacob  Kaiser, 
Samuel  R.  Kingsley,  Jr, 
Henry  H.  Ladd, 
Peter  F.  Lantz, 
Fernando  W.  Moon, 


George  E.  Moore, 
Robert  Polk, 
John  Renton, 
James  Renton, 
Henry  W.  Randall. 

Company  E. 
Moses  Amo, 
Harvey  Allen, 
Cornelius  Crimmins, 
Charles  D.  Durfee, 
Isaac  L.  Greusel, 
James  Laird, 
John  W.  Proctor, 
Garrett  Rourke. 

Company  F. 

Shelden  E.  Crittenden, 
Levi  S.  Freeman, 
Francis  M.  Rose, 
Frank  T.  Shier, 
William  R.  Shier, 
Mordaunt  Williams. 

Company  G. 
Michael  Brabeau, 
John  Cole, 
Sidney  B.  Dixon, 
Lewis  W.  James, 
Charles  F.  Langs, 
William  H.  Southworth, 
Joseph  G.  Thompson, 
David  Valrance, 
William  Young. 

Company  H. 
Robert  E.  Bolger, 
Edward  L.  Farrell, 
William  Ford, 
William  H.  Hoffman, 


CAPTAIN   WARREN    O.    VINTON. 


MAJOR   EDWIN    D.    WKillT. 


CHAPLAIN    WILLIAM   C.    WAY. 


LIEUTENANT  CHARLES  C.   YEMANS. 


MICHIGAN   DAY   AT   GETTYSBURG.  419 

Charles  M.  Knapp,  Albert  E.  Bigelow,  Patrick  Gaffney, 

John  Langdon,  Patrick  Cleary,  Henry  Hoisington, 

Alexander  W.  Morrison,  Charles  A.  Kinney,  William  M.  Johnson, 

Robert  Morris,  Jr.,  James  Magooghan,  William  Laura, 

Joseph  Schunk,  Henry  S.  Stoddard.  Henry  B.  Millard, 

Frederick  Uebelhoer.  John  A.  Pattee, 

Company  K.  Samuel  F.  Smith, 

Company  I.  Thomas  Saunders, 

John  R.  Brown, 

Ralph  Archibald,  R  Rogs  Finlayson>  Jacob  M.  Van  Riper. 

John  Bryant, 

Total,  126  ;  of  whom  112  were  present  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  Of  the 
latter,  46  were  wounded  there  and  13  captured. 

Morning  brought  fine  weather,  and  the  forenoon  was  happily  spent 
in  visiting  points  of  interest  on  the  battlefield.  About  60  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  assembled  at  their  monument,  and  were  successfully 
photographed,  in  an  18  by  22  inch  picture.  The  features  of  the 
comrades  are  plainly  shown,  as  well  as  the  monument,  with  the 
regimental  and  Iron  Brigade  flags  ;  also,  a  few  of  the  identical  trees  on 
the  first  line  of  battle.  It  is  a  beautiful  memento,  as  it  shows  faces 
that  were  there  26  years  before,  in  the  whirlwind  of  death. 

Many  went  to  Gulp's  Hill  and  viewed  the  line  of  breastworks 
built  by  the  small  remnant  with  the  flag,  the  first  night  of  the  battle. 
There  was  a  melancholy  sadness  as  the  men  pointed  out  the  places 
where  they  or  their  comrades  fell  and  many  of  the  latter  died.  None 
but  the  veterans  themselves  could  appreciate  the  interest  taken  by 
them  in  their  re-visit  to  this  field  of  sorrow,  an  occasion  they  had 
never  expected,  but  one  which  will  soften  the  evening  of  their  days  as 
they  pass,  one  by  one,  to  the  final  camp  of  eternal  rest. 

At  2:30  P.  M.,  on  June  I3th,  the  veterans  started  on  the  homeward 
journey,  though  not  in  cattle  cars  as  when  they  went  to  the  front  in 
war  days.  The  return  trip  was  by  way  of  Harper's  Ferry,  where  the 
train  halted  for  two  hours,  affording  a  fine  view  of  Maryland  and 
Loudon  Heights,  and  the  scene  of  John  Brown's  raid  30  years  before. 
The  engine  house  in  which  he  sought  refuge  and  was  captured  by 
Robert  E.  Lee,  has  been  mostly  carried  away  by  relic  hunters.  When 
night  came  the  train  was  winding  over  the  mountains,  while  incidents 
of  the  battlefield  visit  were  topics  for  conversation  among  the  veterans 
who  arrived  safely  home  at  midnight  of  June  I4th,  each  to  carry 
through  life  a  happy  remembrance  of  his  trip  to  Gettysburg. 

(80) 


420  HISTORY  OF   THE  TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN. 

ADDRESS    OF    MAJOR    EDWIN    B.    WIGHT, 
At  Gettysburg,  June  12,  1889. 

•COMRADES  AND  COUNTRYMEN: — It  is  one  of  the  cardinal  features  of  the  Moslem 
faith  that  its  devotees  shall  prayerfully  face  daily  toward  Mecca;  but  this  further 
injunction  is  laid  upon  them  that,  "health  and  wealth  permitting,"  every  member 
of  that  great  religious  family  shall,  once  at  least  during  their  lives,  make  a  pilgrimage 
thither.  No  conveniences  of  travel  mitigate  the  discomforts  of  the  journey  but,  in 
the  fashion  of  their  ancestors,  they  plod  on  in  the  beaten  caravan  route,  spending 
weeks  or  possibly  months  in  their  faithful  efforts  to  reach  the  spot  which  they  deem 
the  holiest  on  earth. 

We  are  inclined  to  sneer  at  these  pilgrims  and  to  write  them  down  fanatics; 
but,  surely  it  would  not  harm  us  sometimes  to  imitate  the  zeal  with  which  this 
reverence  of  locality  has  inspired  them.  With  something  of  their  spirit,  to-day  we 
stand  upon  hallowed  ground  and  now  we  see  before  us  and  around  us  the  Mecca 
towards  which  our  pilgrim  feet  have  turned. 

Since  the  hour,  more  than  twenty-five  years  ago,  when  our  "tramp-tramp- 
tramp"  was  first  heard  among  these  hills,  many  of  us  have  been  virtually  pilgrims 
and  our  way  up  and  down  the  earth  has  been  a  winding  one  and  strange. 

Some  of  us  could  not,  if  we  would,  have  revisited  these  scenes  during  all  these 
years — while  other  some,  fanciful  as  it  may  seem,  would  not,  if  we  could  ;  and  so  it 
has  happened  that  not  many  of  the  five  hundred  whom  we  represent  to-day  have 
gazed  upon  these  vales  and  ridges  since  the  days  when  they  gleamed  in  the 
July  sun  of  1863. 

And  as  we  now  fall  in  and,  seeking  to  live  over  again  our  soldier  experiences, 
begin  to  call  the  roll — how  slowly  and  how  sadly  come  back  the  responses  and  what 
long  waits  there  are  between  the  answering  voices.  Many,  alas — how  many,  almost 
within  eye-shot  of  where  we  now  stand,  passed  over  to  the  silent  majority.  For  them 
can  only  come  the  softly  spoken  words  and  yet  most  glorious  ones  with  which,  for 
many  years,  answer  was  made  when  the  name  of  the  First  Grenadier  of  France  was 
called — "Dead  on  the  field  of  honor." 

For  others,  we  know  that  their  final  discharge  came  in  the  still  watches  of  the 
night  and  that  they  were  silently  borne  away  from  some  hospital  ward  where  they 
had  long  contended  in  their  steadily  losing  fight  with  wounds  or  disease  or  both.  Still 
others  long  time  starved  and  then  passed  away  from  earth  mid  the  confines  of 
crowded  and  horrible  Southern  prisons  while  other  some,  bearing  within  them  the 
seeds  of  disease  contracted  through  long  and  exhaustive  service  or  with  the  insidious 
poison  of  never  healing  wounds  sapping  the  life  current,  have,  in  the  more  peaceful 
surroundings  of  their  own  firesides,  shifted  their  camp  across  the  river  and  are 
tenting  on  the  higher  plains  beyond. 

The  many  are  gone — the  few,  the  small  minority  remain  to  answer  "Present" 
as  their  names  are  read.  Each  passing  year  makes  deeper  inroads  among  the  ranks 
of  the  survivors  and  soon — ah — too  soon  the  last  of  the  Old  Guard  will  have  "folded 
his  tent  and  silently  stolen  away,"  leaving  but  a  memory  behind.  What  think  you? 
Can  it  ever  be  such  a  memory  that  the  "world  will  willingly  let  it  die?"  This 
Monument,  so  long  as  it  shall  stand,  will  give  prompt  answer  to  your  query. 

Michigan,  in  a  larger  way,  has  had  her  day  of  dedication  and  has  fittingly 
emphasized  the  fact  that  thirteen  independent  organizations  of  her  own  did  valorous 
service  for  the  country  on  this  field.  Her  tablet  inscription  evidences  to  all  how 


MICHIGAN   DAY   AT   GETTYSBURG.  421 

lovingly  and  how  reverently  she  has  performed  the  act  of  erecting  these  memorials 
"to  her  martyrs  and  heroes  who  fought  in  defence  of  Liberty  and  Union." 

And  while  we  come  to  join  in  this  general  demonstration  of  affectionate 
remembrance  of  all  the  Michigan  heroes,  and  martyrs,  it  is  most  natural  that  we 
should  feel  more  closely  drawn  to  the  Comrades  of  the  dear  Old  Twenty-fourth  with 
whom  we  tented  and  marched  and  fought  and  with  whom  our  lives  were  wondrously 
united  for  so  many  long  months.  And,  in  attempting  to  hold  our  own  special 
services  to-day,  we  do  insist  that  we  shall  not  be  charged  with  the  design  of  unduly 
seeking  to  parade  our  own  deeds. 

We  simply  hold  to-day,  as  we  oft  have  held  in  the  past,  our  Regimental 
Reunion.  It  matters  not  that  we  have  changed  our  place  of  meeting.  For  the  Old 
Flag  is  here.  The  "boys"  are  here.  Not  perhaps  the  lively,  singing,  quick-stepping 
boys  of  '63 — but  still  the  boys,  with  much  of  the  old  time  spirit  and  all  of  the  old  time 
patriotic  blood  pulsing  rapidly  through  their  veins. 

We  come,  not  as  at  first,  from  the  single  County  of  Wayne  but  from  various 
parts  of  the  State  and  even  from  other  States — but,  from  wheresoever  we  come,  we 
bring  with  us  the  deepest  devotion  to  the  Old  Regiment,  the  One  Flag  and  the  One 
Country.  And  we  should  be  less  than  human  if  there  did  not  come  to  us,  as  we  stand 
upon  this  spot  and  group  ourselves  about  this  Monument,  a  true  feeling  of  pride  that, 
as  representatives  of  this  most  loyal  State,  we  were  permitted  to  fight  this  battle 
through  from  start  to  finish.  Surely  none  dare  blame  us  for  this  feeling.  We  only 
sought  to  do  our  duty  and  modestly  we  now  claim  our  meed  of  praise. 

With  rare  compliment,  you  have  asked  me  to  speak  to  you  at  this  Reunion 
and  I  confess  that  I  am  awkwardly  embarassed  for  a  theme. 

At  former  meetings,  the  Regimental  History  has  been  most  fully  rehearsed  and 
personal  incidents  most  delightfully  told.  It  would  seem  that  these  topics  were  worn 
so  threadbare  that  he  would  be  rash  indeed  who  ventured  to  make  use  of  them  here 
and  now.  And  yet  after  all,  the  "nothing  new  under  the  sun"  helps  us  to  conclude 
that  the  old  things  may  lose  something  of  their  staleness,  if  a  little  different  posing  of 
subject  is  given  or  some  change  of  color  is  dashed  in. 

When  General  Lee  had  put  his  army  in  motion  for  an  extended  invasion  of  the 
North,  the  Washington  City  Guard  or  rather  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  started 
upon  a  similar  mission.  Without  serious  mishap,  though  there  were  many  sharp 
collisions  between  the  Cavalry  forces  of  the  two  armies,  the  Potomac  River  was 
crossed  and  the  "sacred  soil  of  Virginia"  was  soon  exchanged  for  the  less  trodden 
one  of  "Maryland,  My  Maryland." 

General  Hooker  had  brought  the  Union  Army  from  its  old  camping-ground 
along  the  Rappahannock,  moving  it  with  consummate  skill  even  into  Pennsylvania 
until  it  seemed  as  if,  at  any  hour,  the  two  great  rival  forces  would  meet  in  deadly 
combat  and  then — just  then,  the  old  drama  must  be  re-enacted  and  the  Potomac  Army 
must  have  a  new  Commander. 

What  a  patient,  long-suffering,  hard-marching  and  harder  fighting  Army  that 
was.  Composed  of  some  of  the  very  best  combative  material  in  the  whole  country, 
it  often  saw  its  sturdiest  efforts  to  win  victory  completely  balked  by  the  inscrutable 
jealousies  of  its  higher  officers,  by  the  indecision  of  its  then  commander  or  by  the 
machinations  of  meddling  politicians.  There  was  no  lack  of  proper  stuff  from  which 
to  make  Division,  Corps  and  Army  Commanders — that  was  shown  over  and  over 
again — but,  in  the  early  years  of  the  war,  no  officer  dared  to  be  too  successful. 

What  a  wearying  burden  the  martyred  Lincoln  carried  upon  his  brain  and 
heart.  View  the  picture  of  his  surroundings  as  you  read  the  story  of  that  life,  so  full 


422  HISTORY   OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN. 

of  devotion  to  the  single  thought  of  preserving  the  Union  of  the  States,  and  wonder 
not  at  the  careworn  brow  and  at  the  aching  heart.  Think  of  his  days  of  toil  and 
suffering  and  suspense — think  of  his  restless,  sleepless  nights  and  all  this  intensified 
by  the  harassing  thought  that  those  who  should  have  been  staunch  supporters  and 
hearty  co-operators  in  his  patriotic  labor  were  often  proven  to  be  spies  in  the  camp 
and  thwarters  of  his  every  move. 

Thank  God — all  were  not  such.  Many  were  of  a  nobler  mould  and  gave  him 
their  best  thought  and  word  and  deed — yea,  life  itself,  if  that  were  needed.  Foremost 
among  these  noble  ones,  we  are  proud  to  place  our  old  Corps  Commander, 
John  F.  Reynolds. 

Perhaps  few  knew  him  intimately,  for  he  was  a  strangely  reticent  man  and  it 
may  be  that  the  fate  of  other  officers,  his  equals  in  rank,  taught  him  more  and  more 
the  wisdom  of  guarded  speech.  But  the  quiet  demeanor  could  not  wholly  mask  the 
ardent  spirit.  His  opponents  recognized  his  ability  and  his  soldiers  knew  that  he 
held  in  reserve  a  latent  force  of  clear  and  cool-headedness  that  could  always  be  relied 
upon.  They  trusted  him  implicitly.  And  when  the  news  reached  the  ist  Corps  that 
General  Hooker  had  been  relieved,  it  was  not  strange  that  many  of  us  jumped  to  the 
conclusion  that  our  Reynolds  would  be  selected  to  lead  the  whole  army  in  the  contest 
that  so  soon  was  to  occur  upon  the  soil  of  his  native  State. 

We  should  have  considered  that  his  promotion  was  only  a  fitting  tribute  to  his 
worth  and  that  his  military  success  was  certain,  if  the  opposition  to  his  plans  came 
only  from  Lee  and  his  Lieutenants.  And  yet  all  the  while  we  felt  that  we  wanted  him 
with  us  and  as  our  special  leader  rather  than  have  him  gain  the  higher  office,  for 
which  he  was  so  pre-eminently  qualified.  If  thus  we  wished,  our  wish  was  granted. 

General  Meade  was  placed  in  command  of  the  Union  Army  but  three  days 
before  the  contending  forces  met.  Brief  space  indeed  to  familiarize  himself  with  the 
task  imposed  upon  him  ;  a  task,  from  which  a  less  cautious  and  a  more  brilliant 
soldier  might  well  have  shrunk.  But  he  found  worthy  coadjutors.  Reynolds  was 
continued  in  charge  of  the  Left  Wing  of  the  Army  (consisting  of  the  ist,  3rd  and  nth 
Corps)  and  much,  very  much  was  left  to  his  discretion. 

No  one  seemed  to  know  just  where  or  when  the  blow  would  fall.  Only  this 
was  definitely  known  that  Lee  had  checked  his  Northward  advance  and  was  either  at 
a  standstill  or  else,  holding  his  forces  well  in  hand,  was  concentrating  towards 
Gettysburg  or  towards  some  point  in  that  vicinity.  The  Union  troops  were  feeling 
their  way  along  at  a  snail's  pace,  covering  much  ground  of  necessity  with  their  trains 
and  artillery  and  yet  all  within  reasonable  supporting  distance,  when  all  the 
circumstances  of  the  case  are  considered. 

General  Meade  had  conceived  the  idea  of  taking  up  a  defensive  position  on 
Pipe  Creek.  He  had  examined  the  locality,  had  recognized  its  natural  advantages 
and  had  hoped  and  perhaps  planned  that  the  expected  battle  should  there  occur. 
This  might  have  been  well  enough,  if  he  could  have  been  positive  that  Lee  would 
surely  attack  him  there. 

This  Lee  might  possibly  have  done,  for  he  is  reported  to  have  said  that  "he 
was  weary  of  all  this  marching,  campaigning  and  bloodshed  and  was  strongly 
desirous  of  settling  the  whole  matter  at  once."  Besides,  the  Army  of  Virginia  was  in 
the  best  possible  condition.  Officers  and  men  were  elated  with  their  triumph  at 
Chancellorsville  ;  they  had  carried  the  war  into  the  enemy's  country  ;  they  had  easily 
brushed  the  Militia  from  their  path  ;  they  had  enjoyed  rare  foraging  and  feasting  in 
Pennsylvania  and,  evidently,  were  ready  and  anxious  for  a  fight  anywhere  and 
everywhere. 


MICHIGAN   DAY    AT   GETTYSBURG.  423 

As  opposed  to  any  defensive  warfare,  read  what  General  Doubleday,  in  his 
book  on  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg,  says  on  page  122. 

"Reynolds  had  the  true  spirit  of  a  soldier.  He  was  a  Pennsylvanian  and, 
inflamed  at  seeing  the  devastation  of  his  native  State,  was  most  desirous  of  getting  at 
the  enemy  as  soon  as  possible.  He  told  me  at  Poolesville  that  it  was  necessary  to 
attack  the  enemy  at  once  to  prevent  his  plundering  the  whole  State.  As  he  had  great 
confidence  in  his  men,  it  was  not  difficult  to  divine  what  his  decision  would  be. 
He  determined  to  advance  and  hold  Gettysburg.  He  directed  the  Eleventh  Corps  to 
come  up  as  a  support  to  the  First  and  he  recommended,  but  did  not  order,  the  Third 
Corps  to  do  the  same." 

Providence  seemed  to  have  inspired  the  plan  of  Reynolds. 

The  light  of  the  first  July  sun  of  1863  is  just  penciling  a  tinge  of  brightness 
amid  the  leafy  shadows  of  Marsh  Creek  and,  as  here  and  there,  its  rays  penetrate 
deeper  and  deeper  and  light  up  the  misty  forest  gloom,  stalwart  forms  are  seen  to 
spring  lightly  from  their  sylvan  couches  and  to  step  quickly  out  into  the  warm 
sunlight  and  to  drink  in  the  tonic  air  of  the  wooded  hillside.  Out  upon  the  vibrant 
air  sound  the  bugle  notes  of  Reveille  and  soon  all  the  peaceful  quiet  of  the  scene 
is  changed. 

The  early  day  routine  goes  on  and  then  brief  space  of  anxious  waiting  ;  for  all 
are  expectant,  restless.  Marching  orders  come,  and  ere  half  the  distance  to 
Gettysburg  is  compassed,  fighting  orders  are  inferred  as  the  boom  of  the  cannon  and 
the  crack  of  the  carbine  announce  that  Buford  has  engaged  the  enemy  and  our 
Division,  as  the  nearest  at  hand,  is  needed  at  the  front. 

No  loitering  now.  The  ordinary  march  step  is  quickened  and  then  this  is 
doubled,  till  the  "black-hatted  fellows"  are  seen  and  heard  from  as  they  envelop 
and  complacently  invite  to  the  rear  a  goodly  portion  of  Archer's  Brigade.  This  is  the 
first  success  of  the  day.  The  few,  swift  minutes  of  fighting  resulted  however,  not 
only  in  considerable  Regimental  loss,  but  they  had  been  sufficient  to  deprive  us  of  our 
Chief.  Yet  even  then  the  messenger  of  death  was  merciful,  for  the  bullet  instantly  did 
its  fatal  work.  Verily,  the  "architect  of  the  battle  had  fallen  dead  across  its  portal." 

It  is  useless  to  speculate  as  to  what  would  or  would  not  have  been  done,  July 
ist,  had  Reynolds'  life  been  spared.  The  odds  against  us  were  too  great  to  have 
made  it  possible  to  do  more  than  offer  stubborn  resistance  to  the  enemy's  attacks. 
No  officer  in  the  army  would  have  fought  the  few  troops  then  in  hand  with  more 
tactical  skill  and  judgment  than  Reynolds  would  have  done  and  with  less  hazard  and 
consequent  loss. 

He  believed  in  his  soldiers  and  they  as  thoroughly  believed  in  him  ;  he  knew 
that  they  could  be  depended  on  to  fight  and  to  fight  well  wherever  he  would  lead 
them  ;  he  considered  Gettysburg  a  fitting  battle  ground  and  there  he  fought  and  there 
he  fell.  The  First  Corps  owes  much  of  its  success  to  his  forming  hand  and  to  his 
wise,  keen  brain  and  every  member  of  it,  reverences  his  memory  with  undying 
affection. 

After  Reynolds'  death,  there  comes  a  brief  lull  in  the  combat.  Thus  far,  the 
First  Division  of  the  First  Corps  and  Buford's  Cavalry  have  been  the  only  Union 
troops  engaged  and  the  two  remaining  Divisions  of  the  Corps  did  not  arrive  upon  the 
field  till  ii  A.  M.  An  half  hour  later,  General  Howard  makes  his  presence  known  and 
assumes  command.  His  Eleventh  Corps  does  not  appear  till  about  i  P.  M.  And  now 
the  conflict  is  renewed,  with  even  more  vigor  and  deadliness  than  before. 

But  who  can  depict  all  the  happenings  of  this  day?  Who  can  venture  to  say 
that  his  description  will  prove  satisfying  to  his  comrades  or  even  to  himself?  For 


424  HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

after  all,  how  small  a  portion  of  a  battle-field,  its  topography  or  its  incidents  come 
within  the  actual  knowledge  of  a  line  officer  and  shape  themselves  into  tangible  form 
before  his  eyes. 

Recall,  if  you  can,  any  engagement  of  the  war  and  positively  state,  of  your  own 
knowledge,  that  you  passed  through  some  particular  field  (a  wheat  field,  for  instance) 
when  you  were  ordered  forward  to  charge  the  enemy's  position.  You  did  pass 
through  the  open  ;  so  much  you  remember,  but  the  nature  of  the  field  you  never  once 
considered.  You  took  possession  of  a  strip  of  woodland,  as  a  bit  of  shelter  from  the 
skurrying  shot,  but  the  character  of  the  fruit  or  forest  trees  did  not  impress  itself 
upon  your  memory.  Some  hill  or  ridge  was  near;  you  occupied  it  as  a  natural 
vantage-ground  for  present  or  later  conflict — but  how  it  sloped  or  what  were  its 
surroundings,  you  had  no  time  to  note.  You  charged  the  enemy  or  were  charged  by 
them  ;  but  just  how  you  advanced  or  how  you  met  the  onset,  you  were  too  busy  then 
to  enter  in  your  mental  memorandum  book. 

Subsequently,  some  military  or  civilian  report  mentioned  a  wheat  field,  a  peach 
orchard,  an  Oak  Hill  or  a  Seminary  Ridge  and  thenceforth  you  adopted  the  names  in 
your  attempted  description  of  the  battle.  But  while  the  battle  raged,  your  horizon 
range  was  limited.  The  lines  of  your  Regiment  or  possibly  of  your  Brigade  covered 
all  the  field  that  your  vision  seemed  able  to  compass  and  accurately  note.  And  even 
then,  in  the  excitement  of  the  struggle,  many  little  incidents  occured  in  your 
immediate  vicinity  of  which  you  were  not  cognizant. 

Volumes  have  been  written,  with  The  Battle  of  Gettysburg  as  sole  and  only 
topic,  but  the  whole  story  has  not  been  told.  Much  of  the  planning  and  more  of  the 
doing  has  been  omitted.  The  living  may  have  given  their  version  of  what  they  did 
and  of  what  they  witnessed  there — but,  oh — if  the  dead  lips  could  be  unsealed,  what 
truer  and  larger  testimony  might  be  spread  upon  the  pages  of  history. 

Then  we  should  learn,  in  fullest  measure,  how  the  brave  9,000  First  Corps  men 
fought  on  open  plain  and  on  unfortified  ridge  and  hillside,  "with  no  other  protection 
than  the  flannel  blouses  that  covered  their  stout  hearts;"  holding  their  own,  for  two 
long  hours,  against  nearly  twice  their  number  and  then  were  slowly  and  steadily 
forced  back,  contesting  however  every  inch  of  backward  move  so  bloodily  that 
welcome  night  cried  "Halt,"  before  the  victorious  larger  force  concluded  that  they 
might  have  accomplished  even  more,  had  they  but  resolutely  pressed  on. 

The  great  loss  inflicted  upon  our  opponents  and  the  fear  that  still  greater  loss 
might  ensue,  if  farther  advance  was  made,  begot  a  caution  that  proved  the  salvation 
of  the  few  remaining  Union  heroes  on  that  eventful  afternoon. 

Defeated,  but  not  disheartened,  the  shadowy  remnant  of  the  Old  First  Corps 
gather  on  Cemetery  Hill  and  darkness  draws  its  sheltering  curtain  about  them  and 
grants  them  needed  rest.  Rest  came  indeed  to  weary  limbs,  but  hearts  were 
overborne  with  sorrow  and  sadness  banished  sleep.  For,  of  the  9,000  that  went  into 
action  that  day,  two-thirds  were  among  the  killed,  wounded  and  missing  and,  of  the 
missing,  a  very  large  proportion  were  either  killed  or  wounded.  And  three-fourths  of 
those  who  answered  to  the  Twenty-fourth's  Regimental  roll-call  in  the  morning  at 
Marsh  Creek  were  not  present  at  nightfall. 

Listen  to  the  inscription  cut  so  enduringly  on  yonder  shaft : — "  Went  into  action 
with  496  officers  and  men.  Killed  and  mortally  wounded  89.  Otherwise  wounded 
218.  Captured  56.  Total  casualties  363.  Five  color  bearers  killed  and  all  the  color 
guard  killed  or  wounded."  What  a  record  of  heroism.  What  a  record  of  loss. 

Colonel  Fox,  in  his  compilation  of  Regimental  Losses  in  the  Civil  War,  page 
390  says — "The  largest  number  of  casualties  in  any  regiment  at  Gettysburg  occurred 


MICHIGAN   DAY   AT   GETTYSBURG.  425 

in  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan.  It  was  then  in  the  Iron  Brigade,  Wadsworth's  (ist) 
Division,  First  Corps  and  fought  in  the  battle  of  the  first  day,  while  in  position  in 
McPherson's  Woods  near  Willoughby  Run.  It  was  obliged  to  fall  back  from  this  line, 
but  did  not  yield  the  ground  until  three-fourths  of  its  number  had  been  struck  down." 

I  would  add  that  Colonel  Fox  insists  that  the  number  of  killed  and  mortally 
wounded  at  Gettysburg  was  94  and  not  89,  as  given  on  the  monumental  tablet;  and 
he  claims  to  have  verified  all  his  figures  by  a  personal  and  thorough  examination  of 
State  as  well  as  Government  Records.  Whichever  should  eventually  prove  to  be  the 
correct  number,  this  fact  will  always  remain  that  the  casulties  that  day  were  simply 
frightful  ;  the  total  of  killed  and  mortally  wounded  being  nineteen  per  cent,  while 
that  of  killed,  wounded  and  missing  reached  the  staggering  figures  of  eighty  per  cent, 
of  the  whole  number  engaged. 

We  do  stand  to-day  upon  ground  which  we  helped  to  make  historic.  Within 
the  scope  of  our  vision  occurred  the  greatest  battle  of  the  war.  Greatest,  not  in  the 
number  of  troops  upon  the  battle-field,  for,  in  the  Seven  Days'  battle.  Lee's  Army  of 
Virginia  was  about  100,000  strong,  while  at  the  Wilderness,  General  Grant  had  about 
125,000  men.  But  greatest,  in  that  here  the  loss  of  life  exceeded  that  of  any  other 
field  of  combat  and  that  here  the  Confederate  Cause  found  its  Waterloo  and 
henceforward  it  became  more  and  more  a  "  Lost  Cause." 

We  would  not  depreciate  the  valor  of  the  Southern  Soldiery,  for  that  would 
make  of  but  little  worth  the  courage  we  ascribe  to  our  own.  They  were  "foemen,  in 
every  way,  worthy  of  our  steel;"  boasting  the  same  lineage  and  proud  to  be  called 
Americans.  When  we  fought  them,  we  styled  them  traitors  and  we  fought  them  to 
the  death.  To-day,  we  heap  no  harsh  epithets  upon  them  ;  for  the  war  is  over  and 
we  know  but  One  Country  and  all  the  inhabitants  thereof  are  countrymen.  And  we 
claim  that  we  shall  be  none  the  less  loyal  to  the  cause  for  which  we  fought,  if  now  we 
show  to  all  our  former  foes  that  we  cherish  "malice  towards  none"  and  only  the 
largest  <:charity  for  all." 

To  friend  and  foe  alike,  this  whole  field  is  sacred.  The  baptism  of  fire  and  of 
blood  is  upon  it.  It  was  dedicated  in  smoke  of  cannon  and  rifle  which  rose  like 
incense  during  three  long  Summer  days  and  it  needs  no  word  nor  stroke  of  pen  to 
reiterate  the  consecration  then  given  to  it. 

Yet,  since  that  date,  eloquent  lips  have  inspiringly  told  the  story  of  the  mighty 
struggle  that  these  hills  and  valleys  witnessed.  State  after  State  has  commemorated 
with  shaft  and  column  the  deeds  of  their  noble  citizen  soldiers  and  thus  have  marked 
for  all  time  one  of  the  localities  where  these  brave  men  so  grandly  exhibited 
their  loyalty. 

As  a  Regiment  and  then,  as  individuals,  we  would  tender  to  "Michigan,  My 
Michigan  "  our  grateful  acknowledgments  for  the  graceful  and  appropriate  monument 
that  crowns  this  knoll  and  we  would  heartily  thank  all  who,  by  vote  or  voice,  helped 
to  place  it  here. 

With  the  countless  other  ones  that  range  along  these  slopes  and  ridges,  this 
shall  prove  a  marker  that  shall  worthily  show  where  the  strong  tide  of  battle  ebbed 
and  flowed.  Thousands  will  visit  this  spot  and,  recalling  the  names  of  some  who 
fought  and  of  some  who  fell  upon  this  field,  will  rejoice  that  the  Peninsula  State  has 
here  so  handsomely  remembered  her  gallant  soldiers.  These  State  days  and  these 
Regimental  days  that  specially  dedicate  these  Memorial  Shafts  in  honor  of  the  Union 
Soldier  seem  but  a  fitting  sequel  to  that  earlier  service  of  consecration  in  November 
1863,  when  our  great  War  President  uttered  in  yonder  Cemetery  the  words  that  thrill 
us  even  now  with  their  strange  pathos  : 


426  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN. 

Fourscore  and  seven  years  ago  our  fathers  brought  forth  upon  this  continent  a 
new  Nation,  conceived  in  liberty  and  dedicated  to  the  proposition  that  all  men  are 
created  equal.  Now  we  are  engaged  in  a  great  civil  war,  testing  whether  that  nation, 
or  any  nation  so  conceived  and  so  dedicated,  can  long  endure. 

We  are  met  on  a  great  battlefield  of  that  war.  We  have  come  to  dedicate  a 
portion  of  that  field  as  a  final  resting  place  for  those  who  here  gave  their  lives  that 
that  Nation  might  live. 

It  is  altogether  fitting  and  proper  that  we  should  do  this.  But  in  a  larger 
sense  we  cannot  dedicate,  we  cannot  consecrate,  we  cannot  hallow  this  ground.  The 
brave  men,  living  and  dead,  who  struggled  here  have  consecrated  it  far  above  our 
power  to  add  or  detract.  The  world  will  little  note  nor  long  remember  what  we  say 
here;  but  it  can  never  forget  what  they  did  here.  It  is  for  us,  the  living,  rather,  to 
be  dedicated  here  to  the  unfinished  work  which  they  who  fought  here  have  thus  far  so 
nobly  advanced.  It  is  rather  for  us  to  be  here  dedicated  to  the  great  task  remaining 
before  us :  that  from  these  honored  dead  we  take  increased  devotion  to  that  cause  for 
which  they  gave  the  last  full  measure  of  devotion  ;  that  we  here  highly  resolve  that 
these  dead  shall  not  have  died  in  vain  ;  that  this  Nation,  under  God,  shall  have  a  new 
birth  of  freedom  ;  and  that  government  of  the  people,  by  the  people  and  for  the  people 
shall  not  perish  from  the  earth. 

A  quarter  of  a  century  ago  these  words  were  spoken  and  the  task  that  weighed 
upon  this  noble  heart  had  not  been  finished.  With  "these  honored  dead,"  of  whom 
he  so  touchingly  speaks,  he  dedicated  and  devoted  his  life  to  this  unfinished  work. 
His  words  come  to  us  to-day  with  peculiar  meaning  and  they  commend  themselves  to 
our  most  earnest  thought. 

For  perhaps  we  increasingly  need  to  learn  what  patriotism  really  signifies  and 
what  a  wealth  of  meaning  is  infolded  in  that  lofty,  loyal  spirit  which  places  love  of 
country  and  devotion  to  that  country's  best  interests  far  above  and  beyond  all  petty 
sectional  feeling  and  party  success.  Gleaning  then  an  object  lesson  on  this  patriotic 
field,  our  presence  here  shall  be  productive  of  unquestioned  good. 

It  may  be  that  I  should  apologize  because  I  have  made  no  personal  mention  of 
any  member  of  the  regiment  and  have  avoided  all  allusions  to  any  incidental 
happenings  on  the  march  or  in  the  field.  If,  in  this  omission,  I  have  disappointed 
any — I  can  now  only  express  my  sincere  regret  and  humbly  beg  to  be  forgiven. 

At  Gettysburg,  every  one  did  full  soldierly  duty  and  filled  the  niche  he  was 
called  upon  to  occupy.  Officer  and  man,  rank  and  file,  all  were  in  the  places  assigned 
them  and  all  were  equally  brave  and  deserving  of  the  highest  praise. 

We  grasp  the  hand  of  the  living  and  try  to  show  them  how  glad  we  are  that  an 
over-ruling  Providence  protected  them  and  spared  their  lives,  not  only  through  the 
terrible  storm  of  shot  and  shell  that  fell  about  them  on  that  first  July  day,  but  for  so 
many  years  thereafter  and  has  brought  them  safely  onward  to  this  present  and  has 
granted  them  the  possession  of  so  many  earthly  enjoyments. 

We  would  pay  fitting  homage  to  the  silent  ones  who  peacefully  sleep  on  yonder 
hill  or  in  the  quiet  God's  Acres  in  our  own  State  and  would  garland  their  resting  place 
with  amaranthine  flowers.  Their  memory  we  shall  ever  cherish  as  a  priceless 
treasure.  Many  of  the  heads  I  see  before  me  are  tinged  with  gray  ;  the  upright  forms 
of  long  ago  are  bending  over  towards  Mother  Earth  ;  the  old  time  lope  has  given 
way  to  the  slow  and  measured  pace  and  the  eyes  are  losing  much  of  their  pristine 
brightness. 

These  facts  touch  us  solemnly  as  we  reflect  that  this  may  be,  for  some  of  us, 
our  last  Reunion.  Since  we  have  met  and  have  traversed  these  hills  and  valleys 
together,  there  has  come  to  us  a  sense  of  sadness  and  disappointment.  For  we  find 
not  here  all  that  we  sought  or  hoped  to  see. 

How  changed  is  all  the  landscape.  And,  as  with  all  the  goodly  things  around 
us,  so  with  us  time  has  wrought  most  startling  changes.  Nature  here  has  covered 


MICHIGAN   DAY   AT   GETTYSBURG. 


427 


with  her  mantle  of  green  or  has  hidden  with  great  growths  of  shrub  or  forest  the  spots 
which  we  thought  that  we  could  easily  recognize.  And  as  we  gaze  about  us,  we 
stand  amazed  at  the  outlook ;  for  the  scars  of  conflict  are  all  concealed,  if  not 
wholly  blotted  out. 

Is  it  not,  my  friends,  one  of  God's  loving  ways  of  teaching  us  that  he  is 
constantly  seeking  to  overlay  our  heart-sorrows  with  greater  and  more  lasting 
heart-joys  ? 

The  battle  here,  with  all  the  woe  and  pain  and  death  it  brought  to  many  an 
individual  soldier,  resulted  in  a  glorious  fruitage.  For  the  laurel  of  Victory  was  the 
precursor  of  the  olive  branch  of  Peace.  An  entire  Nation,  united  and  prosperous, 
now  rejoices  in  the  blessings  that  were  made  possible,  in  God's  good  time,  by  the 
bloody  field  of  Gettysburg. 


CHAPTER    XXII. 


CONFEDERATE  PRISONS. 


QLADLY  would  we  forego  the  recital  of  the  revolting  details  of 
this  chapter.     To  do  so  would  be  an  untruthful  abridgement 
of    history.       Thirty-nine     soldiers    of    the     Twenty-fourth 
Michigan  died  of  starvation,  and  disease  resulting  therefrom, 
in  Confederate  prisons,  and  nine  more  of  the   Regiment  died  while 
coming   home,   after   their    release    from    those    prison    pens,  not   to 
mention  the  untimely  graves  and  shattered  healths  of  85  others  of  this 
one  regiment  who  were  confined  in  them.     Confederate  prisons  form 
the  darkest  chapter  in  the  blood-stained  annals  of  this  nation,  and 
conclusively  prove  that  a  people  of  a  section  guilty  of  such  barbarities 
to   those  within  their  power  were  totally  unworthy  of,  and  unfit  for, 
separate  nationality. 

Savages  of  the  forest  and  cannibals  of  the  sea  isles  never  exhibited 
greater  cruelties  to  captives  than  the  Confederates  did  to  their  prisoners 
of  war.  From  public  records  on  both  sides,  from  personal  narratives 
of  our  regimental  comrades  still  living  in  this  city,  and  from  a  visit  of 
the  author  to  Andersonville  in  1869,  has  he  been  able  to  collate  the 
awful  facts  of  this  chapter.  We  offer  no  apology  for  this  narration. 
The  pen  must  convey  thoughts  which  the  tongue  will  hesitate  to 
utter.  By-gones  may  be  by-gones  with  sentimentalists  whose  feelings 
go  out  to  the  authors,  but  never  to  the  victims  of  crime.  But  ive  can 
never  forget  and  zuill  never  forgive  those  in  the  South  guilty  of  the 
barbarisms  practiced  upon  our  unfortunate  comrades  whom  the 
chances  of  war  placed  under  their  control.  As  martyr  fires  emblazon 
the  deeds  of  fanaticism  and  bigotry,  and  burnings  at  the  stake  lighten 
up  the  forest  darkness  among  savages,  so  the  records  of  Southern 
prison  pens  disclose  the  enormities  of  slavery's  influence,  which  read 
like  pages  from  the  history  of  hell! 

The  captive  insurgents  were  well  fed,  comfortably  housed,  and  as 
generously  treated  as  if  they  had  been  hospital  patients  of  the  Union 
army.  Not  one  of  them  ever  died  of  starvation  ;  not  one  ever  suffered 

(428) 


CON KI.DKRATP:  PRISONS. 


429 


43O  HISTORY  OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

for  want  of  food,  clothing  or  medical  attention.  Whatever  mortality 
prevailed  among  them  was  from  natural  causes,  greatly  from  small-pox, 
the  result  of  their  own  failure  to  vaccinate.  Not  so  in  the  South  with 
the  Union  captives,  where  they  had,  for  the  most  part,  no  shelter 
from  storms,  cold  or  sun  heat  other  than  dug-outs  in  the  ground,  with 
but  inadequate  and  the  foulest  food  and  water;  and  this,  too,  in  sight 
of  standing  forests,  the  purest  water,  and  an  abundance  of  food,  which 
were  denied  them. 

The  scope  of  our  work  forbids  a  full  treatment  of  this  subject  and 
descriptions  of  those  infernal  prisons.  Libby  prison  was  a  large 
warehouse  in  Richmond,  owned  by  Mr.  Libby,  a  Unionist,  whose 
property  was  seized  for  prison  uses.  It  was  three  stories  high,  besides 
a  basement.  It  contained  six  rooms,  40  by  100  feet  each,  in  which 
were  confined  1,500  Union  officers  and  men,  with  no  conveniences  to 
cook,  eat,  wash  their  clothes,  and  bath,  or  even  sleep  except  upon  the 
bare  floor.  There  was  no  fire,  and  the  windows  being  broken,  the  cold 
wind  blew  through  the  building.  Under  penalty  of  being  shot  by 
the  guard,  no  one  was  allowed  to  go  within  three  feet  of  the  windows. 
The  brutal  guards  were  given  a  furlough  for  each  Union  prisoner  thus 
killed. 

Yet  the  prisoners  in  Libby  fared  better  than  those  on  Belle  Isle,  as 
they  were  under  a  roof.  Those  on  the  island  were  without  shelter  for 
the  most  part.  This  island  consisted  of  about  eight  acres  in  the 
James  River,  in  front  of  Richmond.  A  portion  of  it  was  a  beautiful, 
grassy  bluff,  shaded  with  trees.  About  five  acres  were  low,  treeless, 
and  sand-barren,  where  the  prisoners  were  confined  and  never  allowed 
to  seek  the  shelter  of  the  grove  a  few  rods  off.  Here  11,000  Union 
prisoners  were  held,  with  shelter  for  a  few  only. 

When  the  Union  captives  were  taken  they  were  searched  and 
stripped  of  all  valuables,  blankets,  overcoats  and  often  even  their 
shoes.  In  winter  the  prisoners  had  to  bundle  together  like  hogs  to 
keep  warm.  In  sleeping  on  the  ground  they  took  turns  who  should  be 
the  outside  men,  and  in  the  severe  wintry  mornings  this  row  was 
marked  by  stiffened  forms,  frozen  to  deatJi,  within  sight  of  the 
Confederate  capitol  and  the  residence  of  Jefferson  Davis  ! 

The  Union  prisoners  were  slowly  starved  by  a  diminution  of  food, 
and  thus  cold  and  hunger  were  like  two  vultures  gnawing  at  their 
vitals.  While  women  of  the  North  were  permitted  to  visit  the 
Confederate  captives  and  alleviate  their  sick  and  wounded  in  prison 
and  in  hospital,  we  have  yet  to  learn  that  a  single  Southern  woman 
ever  visited  a  Confederate  prison  where  Union  soldiers  were  confined, 


CONFEDERATE   PRISONS. 


431 


432  HISTORY   OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

except  once,  when  the  wife  of  the  Confederate  Secretary  of  War 
visited  Libby  and  declared  if  she  could  have  her  way  she  would  hang 
them  all !  This  she-devil  feeling,  we  are  glad  to  note,  was  not  shared 
by  all  the  women  of  the  South.  For,  in  its  later  periods,  as  the  Union 
prisoners  were  taken  from  place  to  place  to  evade  recapture,  some  of 
the  Southern  people  were  horrified  at  their  awful  appearance,  and 
moved  to  commiseration.  The  Confederate  authorities  refused  to 
allow  alleviation  to  be  extended  to  the  Union  prisoners. 

The  cruelties  practiced  in  Libby  and  at  Belle  Isle  were  not  so 
revolting  as  those  in  more  southern  pens.  As  the  war  was  prolonged 
and  Union  prisoners  accumulated,  and  the  chances  of  recapture  about 
Richmond  became  greater,  more  Southern  dens  were  constructed,  and 
the  accumulations  in  Libby  and  Belle  Isle  were  forwarded  thence. 
The  number  of  Union  prisoners  about  Richmond  became  greater 
when,  late  in  1862,  the  exchange  of  prisoners  was  stopped  by  Jefferson 
Davis,  who  refused  to  recognize  the  captured  colored  soldiers  as 
prisoners  of  war.  Our  Government  could  do  no  less  than  protect 
these  allies  of  the  Northern  white  soldiery,  and  so  the  exchange 
ceased.  It  was  revived  later,  but  the  South  would  only  send  forward 
for  exchange  the  emaciated  forms  of  dying  captives  and  such  as  were 
unfit  for  field  duty  again,  purposely  starved  that  they  might  be  thus 
useless,  while  the  Southern  soldiers  exchanged  left  the  Northern 
prisons  in  full  health,  and  at  once  re-entered  the  Southern  army. 

Below  is  the  diary  of  Henry  H.  Ladd,  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
Michigan,  still  living  in  Detroit,  who  was  captured  on  the  Weldon 
Road.  It  is  a  sample  of  such  wonderful  records  that  have  survived 
those  awful  prison  months. 


DIARY   OF   HENRY    H.    LADD. 

Friday,  Aug.  iq,  1864. — I  am  a  prisoner  ;  marched  to  Petersburg,  and  lodged  in 
gaol.  2oth. — Start  for  Richmond.  Escorted  to  a  tobacco  warehouse  near  Libby 
Prison. 

Sunday,  Aug.  21. — Feel  rather  rough  after  sleeping  on  the  hard  floor  with  wet 
clothes  on.  Move  into  Libby  Prison.  All  are  searched  for  the  third  time.  March  to 
Belle  Isle.  22d. — Slept  on  the  ground  without  a  rag  under  or  over  me.  No  tents  on 
the  island.  Had  one  meal  to-day,  half  a  cup  of  bean  soup  and  corn  bread.  Rained  all 
the  afternoon  and  night.  No  tents  nor  blankets.  23d. — A  cool  morning.  Spend  my 
time  reading  my  testament.  Had  two  meals.  Lay  on  ground.  24th. — A  hot  day. 
Don't  feel  well.  25th. — Up  and  ready  for  my  corn  dodger.  Wish  I  was  home  to  have 
a  good  meal.  There  are  4,500  prisoners  on  about  two  and  one-half  acres  here. 
Bought  a  loaf  of  bread  for  $1.50.  26th. — Lay  on  the  wet  ground.  Paid  twelve 
shillings  for  a  piece  of  bread  for  breakfast.  Got  no  rations  till  night.  Shall  attend 


CONFEDERATE   PRISONS.  433 

prayer-meeting  to-night.     2yth. — Rained  last  night.     No  breakfast.     One  of  our  boys 
was  shot  last  night  by  the  guard.     Bought  two  loaves  of  bread  for  two  dollars. 

Sunday,  Aug.  28. — Dreamed  of  home  last  night.  How  I  wish  it  was  s'o.  I 
would  attend  church  in  old  Dearborn.  Had  a  cup  of  bean  soup  and  a  one-quarter  pound 
corn-dodger  to-day.  2gth. — Rained  last  night.  Cool  this  morning.  Have  all  been 
counted.  Two  thousand  more  prisoners  arrived  to-day.  3Oth. — Had  a  cup  of  coffee 
made  from  grounds.  Buy  three  small  biscuits  for  a  dollar.  Wish  I  could  hear  from 
home.  3ist. — Cold  last  night.  Bought  three  loaves  of  bread  for  two  dollars.  Sept. 
ist. — Our  Government  refuses  to  parole  us.  The  men  think  it  hard.  3d. — Did  not 
sleep  half  an  hour  all  night. 

Sunday,  Sept.  4. — Rained  last  night.  All  were  counted  to  day.  No  grub. 
Paid  fifty-cents  for  some  bread.  Have  spent  my  last  shilling.  Sold  my  wallet  for 
three  loves  of  bread.  Had  prayer  meeting  to-night.  5th. — Heard  good  news  by  the 
rebel  papers  that  Atlanta  is  ours.  Have  a  loaf  left  for  breakfast.  Rained  in  the  night. 
6th. — All  counted  again.  Sold  my  canteen  for  two  loaves  of  bread.  Rained  again  at 
night,  yth. — No  grub.  If  I  was  on  the  Island  of  Juan  Fernandez,  I  could  have 
something  to  eat,  but  alas,  Belle  Isle  is  barren.  8th. — Nearly  froze  last  night.  Am 
hungry  but  nothing  to  eat.  gth. — Sold  my  knife  for  six  loaves  of  bread.  loth. — The 
day  closes  with  a  row  and  calls  for  tents. 

Sunday,  Sept.  n. — Got  half  a  loaf  for  this  day's  ration.  Have  an  old  bag  for 
a  bed.  I2th. — Did  not  sleep  any  last  night  on  account  of  cold.  Nothing  to  eat.  Not 
well  enough  to  go  to  prayer  meeting.  I3th. — Sold  my  haversack  for  two  loaves  and 
ate  them  for  breakfast.  Had  a  good  prayer  meeting  with  a  large  attendance.  I4th. — 
Dreamed  of  home.  Hear  heavy  cannonading.  All  called  out.  I5th. — Sick  with 
fever.  Sold  my  ring  for  a  loaf  of  bread.  i6th. — Fever  all  night.  Wrote  home. 
iyth. — Ration  of  bread  for  breakfast. 

Sunday,  Sept.  18. — Headache  and  fever  all  night.  22d. — Rained  through  the 
night.  Have  a  bad  cold.  23d — A  wet  day.  24th. — Have  a  tip-top  appetite  but 
nothing  to  eat. 

Sunday,  Sept.  25. — How  hard  to  be  a  prisoner.  Wish  I  was  home  to  dinner. 
26th. — Slept  cold  last  night.  Out  to  be  counted  to-day.  2yth. — Nothing  to  eat  till 
noon.  Hear  of  Early's  defeat  in  the  Valley.  2gth. — Two  of  our  boys  retaken  who 
attempted  to  escape.  Did  not  get  any  grub  till  3  o'clock  ;  nearly  famished.  3Oth. — 
Over  650  prisoners  came  from  Libby.  Oct.  ist. — Nothing  to  eat  till  noon.  Very 
hungry  and  cold.  Rained  all  day. 

Sunday,  Oct.  2. — Slept  hard  last  night ;  head  aches.  Am  getting  thin  and  poor. 
Another  man  shot  by  the  guard  last  night.  3d. — Some  tents  came  to-day.  4th. — This 
is  a  hard  life  to  live  and  starve,  but  hope  for  better  days.  1,000  men  went  south  to 
North  Carolina  to-day  from  Belle  Island.  5th. — About  950  men  left  for  Southern 
prisons  to-day.  6th. — Left  Belle  Island  to-day  and  reached  Danville  at  5  P.  M.  Sixty 
men  in  one  cattle  car.  Such  a  crowd  and  such  a  time!  Sell  my  ink  bottle  for  bread. 
Good-bye  Belle  Isle,  may  I  never  see  it  again.  Have  ate  all  my  bread.  Still  hungry. 
7th.  — No  rations.  Sell  my  eye-glass  for  two  apples.  8th. — Slept  in  the  open  field. 
Arrived  at  Salisbury,  North  Carolina.  No  rations.  Staid  all  night  out  in  an  open 
field.  Have  not  slept  for  four  nights. 

Sunday,  Oct.  9. — We  are  in  an  inclosure  of  twelve  acres.  Got  two  meals  to-day. 
Am  shivering  with  cold.  loth. — Got  half  a  loaf  of  bread  for  to-day's  ration.  Am 
getting  very  thin  in  body.  nth. — Two  men  died  last  night  from  exposure.  I2th. — 
Wish  I  could  hear  from  home,  or  get  a  letter  to  my  friends.  I3th. — Got  some  soup 
and  five  hard  tack  to-day.  Flour  is  $225  a  barrel,  Confederate  money.  Pies  and 


434  HISTORY  OF  THE  TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

cakes  three  dollars  each.  i4th. — Had  a  cup  of  crust  coffee  and  half  a  cake  for 
breakfast.  Hope  God  in  his  Providence  will  deliver  us  from  here.  Half  a  dozen  die 
daily  from  starvation.  I5th. — Drew  some  bread  and  molasses  to  eat  to-day. 

Sunday,  Oct.  16. — Wish  I  was  at  home  to  go  to  church  at  Dearborn.  Home, 
sweet  home — will  I  ever  see  you  again  ?  Shall  keep  up  good  cheer  and  trust  in 
Providence.  One  of  our  officers  was  shot  to-day  while  hanging  his  clothes  on  a  tree. 
I7th. — Sold  some  buttons  and  bought  half  a  corn  dodger.  i8th. — How  hard  to  be  here 
starving  and  suffering  cold  when  one  has  a  home  with  plenty.  Could  I  only  have  the 
crumbs  of  my  own  table  I  would  not  complain,  igth. — The  officers  leave  to-day  for  another 
prison.  2oth. — No  news  yet  from  home.  Eighty  a  week  are  dying  here.  Boys 
digging  and  making  earth  shanties.  The  hospital  is  overflowing.  Diarrhea  and 
black  fever  prevail,  caused  by  starvation.  2ist. — Grub  came  at  9  A.  M.  Have  a 
severe  headache.  22nd. — No  tents  or  barracks  and  many  must  perish.  Think  of  my 
dear  old  home  daily. 

Sunday,  Oct.  23. — Up  and  ready  for  my  half  loaf.  It  can't  be  colder  in  Michigan. 
24th. — Got  a  cup  of  flour  and  molasses  to  eat  to-day.  Got  one  tent  for  100  men  to-day. 
25th. — Sold  my  hat  band  for  a  loaf  of  bread.  Two  loads  of  dead  went  out.  They 
bury  our  men  without  coffins  or  straw.  26th. — Noon  and  no  rations.  Discouraged. 
Ten  died  last  night.  Oh,  will  our  government  leave  us  here  to  perish.  27th. — Cloudy 
and  rainy.  How  our  men  suffer.  Will  get  no  provisions  till  to-morrow.  Will  not  the 
Almighty  punish  men  for  such  treatment  of  prisoners?  28th. — Twenty-two  died  last 
night.  No  rations  to-day.  Starvation  stares  us  all  in  the  face.  2gth. — No  food  for  36 
hours.  Will  get  no  bread  to-day.  Almost  famished.  The  men  are  about  to  raise  a 
mob  and  break  out.  Twelve  died  this  morning  and  others  dying  every  hour. 

Sunday,  Oct.  30. — Sixty  hours  and  only  one  quart  of  rice  and  two  small  pieces 
of  meat  to  eat.  Twenty  died  this  morning.  Hear  we  are  to  be  paroled.  God  grant 
it.  3ist. — Got  half  a  loaf  of  bread  to-day.  Eighteen  dead  hauled  out  to-day.  Nov.  i. 
— Sold  my  hat  for  a  loaf  of  bread  and  $500  Confederate  money.  2d. — No  rations  till 
dark  and  then  drew  flour.  Rains  and  cannot  cook  it.  3d. — Cloudy  and  awful  cold. 
Thirty  died  last  night.  Drew  half  a  pint  of  flour  to  day.  5th. — A  few  of  our  men  are 
enlisting  in  the  Confederate  army  hoping  to  escape  death  here.  The  men  are  forced 
to  it  by  starvation.  Language  nor  pen  can  describe  the  suffering  we  undergo.  Men 
die  every  hour. 

Sunday,  Nov.  6. — Drew  meal  and  tripe  for  rations,  yth. — How  I  wish  I  was 
back  to  my  old  Wayne  county  home.  God  has  kept  me  thus  far,  and  I  will  rely  on  his 
mercy.  Six  hundred  came  from  Richmond  last  night.  8th. — No  rations  to-day, 
gth. — Trade  pantaloons  and  get  half  a  loaf  of  bread  to  boot.  Traded  boots  and  gave 
half  a  loaf  of  bread  worth  five  dollars.  loth. — Rainy.  Slept  only  half  the  night. 
nth. — Saw  a  piece  in  the  Raleigh  Standard  that  the  Governor  of  Georgia  favors  peace. 

Sunday,  Nov.  13. — What  a  cheerless  Sabbath;  about  eighteen  die  daily.  I4th. — 
Hear  that  Lincoln  is  elected.  Bourassas  of  Company  F,  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  is 
dead.  i6th. — Half  a  loaf  of  corn  bread  for  this  day.  I7th. — Hear  that  letters  will  go 
North.  Must  write  to  my  friends.  i8th. — Corn  bread  for  ration,  igth. — Lay  abed 
all  day  to  keep  warm.  Cold  and  Stormy.  Got  half  a  loaf  of  poor  corn  bread.  Men 
are  dying  like  sheep  with  the  rot. 

Sunday,  Nov.  20. — It  still  rains.  Cold  and  muddy.  In  bed  to  keep  warm. 
Got  half  a  loaf  of  sour  corn  bread.  2ist. — Rained  all  night  and  all  day.  Mud  knee 
deep.  22d. — Awful  cold  day,  one  freezes  to  stir  out  long  enough  to  draw  rations. 
Willaird,  of  Company  A,  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  died  last  night.  23d. — Too  cold 
to  take  off  our  clothes  to  skirmish  for  "greybacks."  24th. — Thanksgiving  Day  at 


CONFEDERATE   PRISONS. 


435 


home.  We  only  get  a  quarter  loaf  of  bread.  Hardly  enough  to  live  on.  Forty  die 
daily.  25th. — I  write  with  a  sad  heart.  Only  got  four  ounces  of  bread  to-day.  Suffering 
with  cold.  Nearly  naked.  Covered  with  lice.  Oh,  what  a  fate  !  Must  we  die  ?  Will  not 
God  deliver  us  from  this  hell?  26th. — Yesterday  the  mob  secured  the  guard  and  rallied 
to  get  out.  We  lost  in  killed  and  wounded  about  ninety. 


PRISONERS1    RIOT  FOR   FOOD   AT  SALISBURY   PRISON,    NORTH  CAROLINA. 

Sunday,  Nov.  27. — Drew  half  a  loaf.  One  hundred  colored  soldiers  came  in 
to-day.  28th. — Got  two  ounces  of  meat.  There  is  plenty  of  bread  in  the  cook  house 
but  C.  S.  A.  would  rather  have  us  starve  fifty  a  day.  soth. — Saw  a  man  drop  dead  from 
starvation.  Dec.  5th. — No  hope  of  parole.  Half  a  loaf  and  a  potato  for  to-day's 
ration.  8th. — Chapman,  of  Company  K,  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  died  this  morning, 
loth. — Seventy-five  men  have  died  since  yesterday. 

Sunday,  Dec.  n. — Men  still  dying  over  fifty  a  day.  Hear  that  Sherman  is 
twenty-five  miles  of  Savannah.  Hope  something  will  turn  up.  I3th. — Slept  none  last 
night  it  was  so  cold.  isth. — On  quarter  rations.  Hear  we  are  to  go  to  South 
Carolina.  Hope  we  will  get  out  of  this  accursed  place.  Shall  I  ever  see  home  again? 
I7th. — Bought  an  onion  for  a  dollar.* 

Sunday,  Dec.  18. — Had  a  good  cup  of  soup  made  from  a  bone.  2oth. — In  bed 
all  day.  Rain  at  night  run  in  on  our  bed.  2ist. — Cold  and  muddy.  Still  stick  to 
our  beds  to  keep  from  freezing.  Got  only  half  a  loaf  of  bran  bread  to-day.  Disease 
and  death  doing  their  work  as  usual.  22d. — Drew  bread  and  molasses.  23d. — Nearly 
frozen.  No  fire.  Only  a  piece  of  raw  corn  bread  to  eat.  How  long  must  we  suffer  so? 


*The  prisoners   dickered   and   traded  around  among  themselves  for  the   money  which   the  new 
captives  brought  to  the  prison. 
(31) 


436  HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Sunday,  Dec.  25. — Had  a  loaf  of  bread  and  rice  soup  for  Christmas  dinner. 
26th. — The  Catholic  prisoners,  about  200,  left  for  a  new  camp.  28th. — Clark  W. 
Butler,  of  Company  H,  Twenty-fourth  Michignn,  died  to  day.  soth. — Half  a  loaf 
only.  Getting  discouraged.  Men  still  dying  like  sheep.  No  relief.  Our  government 
has  forsaken  us  !  God  forgive,  but  we  never  can. 

Sunday,  Jan.  i,  1865. — Sergeant  Nardin  of  Company  I,  Twenty-fourth  Michigan, 
died  last  night.  2d.— Living  in  bed  to  keep  warm.  Oh,  how  dreary  is  such  a  life. 
Will  we  ever  get  out  of  this  place?  3d. — Drew  salt  meat  and  bread.  4th. — The  men 
still  sicken  and  die.  5th. — In  bed  to  keep  warm.  Will  it  ever  be  my  lot  to  see  home 
again?  6th. — Rainy  and  mud  knee  deep. 

Sunday,  Jan.  8. — Too  cold  to  look  over  my  clothing  for  lice.  Got  half  a  loaf. 
Burnett  of  Company  H,  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  is  dead.  gth. — Sitting  in  bed  all 
day  shivering  with  the  cold.  loth. — Rained  all  night,  mud  too  deep  to  stir  outside. 
John  A.  Sherwood  of  Company  C,  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  has  also  died  here.  nth. 
— Only  some  molasses  to  eat  to-day.  I2th. — Got  half  a  loaf.  I3th. — Hunted  lice  on  my 
shirt  all  day.  Oh,  what  a  life  !  I4th. — No  rations  in  camp;  100  of  us  go  out  to  work 
on  R.  R.  Got  half  a  loaf  for  our  day's  work.  2oth. — Been  in  bed  six  days  to  keep  warm. 

Sunday,  Jan.  22. — Sick  in  bed.  23d. — Men  dying  like  sheep  every  hour.  Oh, 
what  a  horrid  place  !  Such  a  stench  and  lice.  One  can  hardly  live.  24th. — Still  in 
bed  to  keep  warm.  25th. — Hundreds  are  sick  and  dying  goes  on  all  the  time.  26th. — 
Nearly  frozen  to  death.  No  fire,  no  clothing  or  anything  to  keep  warm.  One  can  lie 
down  and  die  of  despair.  Hope  is  all  that  is  left.  27th. — Still  awful  cold.  One  of  the 
boys  by  my  side  died  last  night.  28th. — Still  in  bed  shivering  from  cold.  It  breaks  the 
stoutest  heart. 

Sunday,  Jan.  29. — Still  suffer  and  sick.  3Oth. — Get  less  to  eat  every  day.  Am 
poor  ;  will  not  weigh  ninety  pounds.  3ist. — Things  look  dreary,  but  hope  to  see  home 
again.  Feb.  ist. — Sold  my  last  article,  my  housewife,  for  two  onions. 

Sunday,  Feb.  5. — Bread  and  molasses  for  rations  to-day.  Men  dying  as  usual. 
7th. — My  diary  is  kept  only  weekly  now  for  want  of  space.  Snow  and  sleet.  Lie  abed  all 
day.  Could  not  sleep  for  hunger  last  night. 

Sunday  Feb.  12. — Bruskie  of  Company  E,  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  died  last 
night.  This  makes  the  eighth  man  of  our  regiment  that  has  died  here,  who  were 
captured  on  Aug.  igth  last. 

Sunday,  Feb  19. — Parole  papers  are  made  out  and  we  are  to  start  for  our  lines. 
Thank  God,  the  day  of  deliverance  has  come.  One  thousand  left  last  night.  There 
have  died  in  this  prison  5,019  prisoners  since  I  came  here  last  October.  Feb.  22d. — 
Left  Salisbury  prison  for  the  north  at  noon.  (Diary  filled.) 

Of  the  twenty-one  members  of  the  regiment  captured  on  the 
Weldon  Road,  eleven  died  in  this  prison  and  while  coming  home ! 
Like  all  the  Confederate  prisons,  Salisbury,  North  Carolina,  was  one  of 
the  most  loathsome.  The  prisoners  suffered  terribly  from  want  of 
food  and  shelter  and  it  was  a  place  of  cruelty  and  horror.  Though 
the  weather  was  inclement  and  frequently  cold  in  the  winter  months, 
the  men  sold  their  coats  and  shoes  for  food,  and  went  around  in  rags, 
frequently  with  nothing  on  but  a  shirt!  Plenty  of  woods  were  near 
from  which  comfortable  huts  and  fuel  might  have  been  obtained,  but 
it  was  not  permitted.  The  clothing  of  the  men  was  covered  with 


CONFEDERATE   PRISONS.  437 

vermin  which  it  was  impossible  to  get  rid  of,  and  which  tortured  the 
sick  who  were  too  weak  to  kill  them.  At  winter  time,  shelter  tents 
were  furnished  for  a  few  only.  Full  one  half  had  to  burrow  in  the 
ground  for  a  covering.  The  dampness  brought  disease  and  death. 
This  prison  was  a  large  cotton  factory  flanked  by  a  few  tenement 
houses  set  up  two  or  three  feet  from  the  ground  on  posts.  Under 
these  houses  the  men  crowded  like  hogs  to  sleep  and  formed  their  beds 
on  the  ground.  The  dead  house  was  frequently  so  full  that  the  bodies 
were  piled  on  top  of  each  other.  When  a  man  died  there  was  often 
a  quarrel  to  see  who  should  have  his  vermin  covered  garments.  His 
comrades  would  then  carry  him  to  the  dead  house,  leave  the  body 
upon  the  accumulated  pile  of  dead  which  were  buried  as  naked  as 
when  they  came  into  the  world. 

On  November  26,  1864,  after  having  been  without  rations  for 
three  days  and  nights,  the  men  concluded  they  might  as  well  die  in  an 
attempt  to  liberate  themselves  as  to  starve  to  death.  In  this 
movement  Robert  E.  Bolger  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  still  a 
resident  of  Detroit,  was  one  of  the  five  leaders.  At  a  certain  moment, 
every  prisoner  was  to  seize  whatever  was  nearest  to  him  —  brickbat, 
stone  or  stick  —  overpower  and  disarm  the  guards  and  make  a  break 
for  freedom.  The  guns  were  wrested  from  the  fifteen  relief  guards,  as 
they  entered  the  yard  and  the  combat  began.  It  was  an  unequal  one, 
for  the  other  guards  opened  on  them  and  before  the  prisoners  could 
effect  their  escape,  the  field  pieces  raked  the  prison  with  grape  and 
canister,  killing  sixteen  and  wounding  sixty.  Not  a  tenth  of  the 
Union  prisoners  took  part  in  the  riot  and  a  great  many  knew  nothing 
of  it  until  the  garrison  cannon  swept  the  prison  pen.  By  looking  at 
the  illustration  on  page  433  the  reader  will  observe  the  beginning  of 
the  riot.  The  limbs  of  the  wounded  were  amputated  by  moonlight 
under  the  tree  in  the  foreground. 

Below  is  the  statement  of  ALMON  J.  HOUSTON  of  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Michigan,  now  living  in  Detroit,  Michigan  : 

I  was  captured  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863,  and  on  July  4,  was  marched  south 
with  several  hundred  other  captives,  not  halting  till  we  reached  Williamsport  where 
the  rise  of  the  Potomac  detained  the  crossing  for  two  days.  Thence  we  were  marched 
for  Staunton.  The  first  night  of  this  march,  we  were  halted  in  a  field  and  searched 
for  all  valuables  and  surplus  clothing.  When  I  saw  this,  I  cut  my  new  rubber 
blanket  into  shreds  with  my  knife,  rather  than  let  the  enemy  have  it.  For  this  act  I 
was  bucked  and  gagged  for  over  two  hours.  This  was  done  by  tying  my  wrists 
together  and  drawing  my  elbows  down  below  the  under  part  of  my  knees,  and  putting 
a  stick  between  the  knees  and  elbows.  A  stick  was  put  in  my  mouth  and  tied  behind 
my  head.  Circulation  stopped  in  my  limbs  and  I  could  not  stand  when  cut  loose. 


433 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


Next  morning  the  march  was  resumed  for  Staunton,  Virginia,  where  we  were 
put  into  old  cars  and  taken  to  Richmond.  I  was  five  weeks  in  Libby  prison  and  then 
put  on  Belle  Isle.  While  here,  in  November,  eight  or  ten  of  our  soldiers  died  while 
sleeping  on  the  outside  of  the  embankment  thrown  up  to  separate  us  from  the  guard. 
They  had  frozen  to  death.  Their  bodies  were  left  there  for  five  days  until  the  hogs  on 
the  island  ate  them  up,  the  rebels  refusing  to  have  them  removed. 

At  first  we  had  a  very  small  piece  of  meat  and  a  cup  of  pea  soup,  once  a  day. 
These  peas  where  infested  with  black  bugs  in  the  shells  and  often  they  had  eaten  the 
entire  pea  out.  Of  such  peas  was  our  soup  made,  bugs  and  all.  Often  we  had  to 
scrape  the  bugs  off  the  top  of  our  soup  before  we  ate  it.  The  Union  Sanitary 
Commission  sent  supplies  for  us  but  the  rebels  confiscated  them  and  they  did  not 

reach  us.  The  guards  would  show  us  the  supplies,  saying  they  were  from  the 

Yankees,  and  eat  them  before  our  eyes.  Occasionally  they  threw  pieces  of  food  down 
into  the  open  sinks  to  see  our  starved  men  in  their  rage  for  food,  reach  down  into  the 
fecal  mass  of  filth  and  fish  them  out  to  eat ! 


LIBBY  PRISON,    RICHMOND,   VA. 


Often  the  stomachs  of  our  men  could  not  digest  the  poor,  uncooked  food, 
furnished  us,  and  they  would  vomit  it  up.  I  have  seen  a  comrade  gather  up  the 
whole  beans  vomited  up,  wash,  re-cook  and  eat  them  !  During  my  stay  on  Belle  Isle, 
the  rebel  surgeons  vaccinated  the  prisoners  with  poisonous  vaccine  that  killed  the 
men  off  faster  than  if  they  had  the  small  pox.  The  vaccinated  limbs  would  rot  and 
the  whole  body  became  infected  with  the  poisonous  virus. 

On  February  22,  1864,  I  left  that  God  forsaken  island  and  was  taken  back  to 
Richmond,  and  then  further  South.  None  knew  where  we  were  destined  until,  at  the 
end  of  six  days  and  nights  on  the  cars,  we  arrived  at  Andersonville  prison.  One  day 
on  the  route  we  had  peanuts  only  to  eat.  We  were  turned  into  this  pen  without 
shelter,  like  a  lot  of  animals.  Here,  for  rations,  we  received  corn  meal,  a  pint  for 
twenty-four  hours,  and  nothing  to  cook  it  with,  although  forests  we  could  see  all 
around  us.  The  meal  often  was  sour  and  being  eaten  uncooked  gave  the  men  a 
diarrhea  from  which  they  died  by  the  hundred.  Soon  our  numbers  increased  to> 
35,000  men  in  the  prison. 


CONFEDERATE   PRISONS. 


439 


At  night,  pine  fires  were  built  all  around  the  prison  to  light  up  the  pen  for  the 
guards  to  sight  any  escaping.  From  the  smoke  cf  these  pine  fires,  the  men's  faces, 
hands  and  naked  feet  became  black.  Their  clothing  hung  in  tatters  from  their 
emaciated  limbs.  Many  had  no  hats.  Many  had  no  shirts,  or  coats  or  shoes.  A 
swamp  ran  through  the  center  of  this  camp,  one  side  of  which  was  used  for  a  sink, 
which  under  a  broiling  sun,  became  too  vile  to  describe,  and  maggots  covered  the 
surface  of  the  stagnant  mass.  Our  men  died  off  from  starvation  like  sheep  with  the 
rot.  Every  morning  corpses  were  laid  out  to  be  hauled  away.  One  day  I  counted 
over  200  dead  who  had  died  within  twenty-four  hours  !  Negroes  would  come  in  with 
a  span  of  mules  hitched  to  a  wagon  with  the  box  top  spreading  outwards,  and  the 


WAGON  AT  ANDERSONVILLE  USED  TO  CARRY  IN  THE  FOOD  AND  CARRY  OUT  THE  DEAD. 


440  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN. 

stiffened  corpses  would  we  tossed  into  the  wagon  like  so  many  dead  hogs,  one  top  of 
the  other,  until  the  box  was  filled.  This  same  wagon,  uncleaned,  was  used  to  haul  in,  to 
our  men,  their  daily  supply  of  food  ! 

Every  few  mornings  the  deep  mouthed  hayings  of  the  large  blood  hounds  kept 
for  the  purpose,  were  heard  in  the  neighboring  forests,  indicating  the  woeful  fate  of 
some  escaped  prisoner.  I  have  read  histories  of  those  Southern  prisons,  but  the 
fullness  of  all  their  hellish  enormities  has  never  been  told.  It  never  can  be.  In  the 
fall  of  1864,  many  of  us  were  taken  to  Millen,  Georgia.  This  was  the  same  as 
Andersonville  in  the  treatment  of  the  men.  A  few  months  later,  I  was  released  for 
exchange  along  with  1,100  others.  My  diary  that  I  had  kept  was  taken  from  me  by 
the  rebels  before  I  got  out  of  their  hands.  There  were  thirty-two  of  our  men  who 
died  while  coming  North,  too  weak  to  stand  the  journey. 

These  accounts  by  comrades  Ladd  and  Houston  are  but  specimens 
of  a  score  of  others  we  might  publish,  did  space  allow,  from  our  own 
regiment  alone.  They  all  contain  the  sickening  details  similar  to  the 
naratives  of  thousands  of  others.  A  few  only  are  published  ;  the  rest 
will  go  down  to  the  graves  of  the  witnesses  of  those  awful  events  of 
southern  prison  life.  They  all  agree  that  "ANDERSONVILLE  was  the 
vilest  place  that  God  ever  let  the  sun  shine  upon."  But  Florence, 
Millen  and  Salisbury  were  equally  as  bad. 

There  is  no  doubt  but  that  it  was  the  design  of  the  Confederate 
government  to  deplete  our  army  by  starving  Union  prisoners  into 
their  graves,  or  totally  unfit  them  for  further  duty.  Scarcely  any  of 
our  returned  prisoners  ever  were  able  to  do  soldier  duties  after  their 
return.  The  rations  issued,  six  ounces  of  flour,  two  ounces  of  bacon,  one 
gill  of  molasses  and  a  pint  of  coivpeas,  was  a  composition  designed  to 
disorder  the  bowels  and  produce  marasmus  and  death. 

From  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run  till  the  surrender  of  the  last 
Confederate  soldier,  Union  captives  were  robbed  of  their  clothing, 
only  enough  being  left  to  cover  them  scantily,  and  frequently  the  rags 
of  the  captor  were  changed  for  them.  No  clothing  was  ever  issued  to 
Union  prisoners  by  the  enemy.  There  was  a  "dead  line"  in  all  the 
prisons,  beyond  which,  or  even  near  which,  it  was  sure  death  from  the 
guards,  to  get.  Shelter  was  furnished  to  but  a  small  portion  of  those 
confined  in  these  prisons.  The  men  had  to  burrow  holes  in  the  ground 
which  often  filled  with  water,  driving  them  out.  Many  had  no  shelter 
at  all. 

The  same  story  as  to  diminution  and  poorness  of  food  runs 
through  all  the  prisons  of  the  south.  Some  were  known  to  catch  rats 
cook  and  eat  them.  At  Belle  Isle,  the  commandant's  dog  was  caught 
and  eaten.  Men  would  even  at  Florence  and  Andersonville,  eat  the 
offal  from  the  rations  of  the  guard,  devouring  scraps  of  stinking  meats 


CONFEDERATE   PRISONS.  44! 

and  slops ;  and  they  would  even  search  the  excrement  and  vomit  of 
comrades  for  undigested  food !  Reader,  do  you  tire  of  these 
statements  ?  Wonder  not  then  of  the  weariness  of  the  actors  of  these 
incidents  which  bear  the  stamp  of  proof  from  living  witnesses  in  our 
midst.  Hundreds  of  pages  of  Congressional  testimony,  taken  at  the 
time,  over  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  from  witnesses  from  every  section 
of  the  Union  corroborate  each  other  as  to  those  prison  enormities. 

The  water  supply  in  all  the  prisons  was  bad.  At  Belle  Isle  the 
water  frontage  of  the  camp  was  narrow  and  the  sinks  contiguous  to 
where  the  men  must  get  their  water.  Frequently  the  prisoners 
were  compelled  first  to  remove  the  fecal  matter  on  the  surface  before 
dipping  up  the  water !  At  Andersonville,  a  pure  volume  of  water  was 
within  bowshot  of  the  pen,  but  not  a  drop  of  it  was  allowed  the 
prisoners.  They  must  go  to  the  swamp  that  divided  the  camp  for 
water. 

The  matter  of  fuel  was  no  better.  Within  sight  of  forests,  they 
were  allowed  no  wood.  Occasionally  at  Salisbury,  a  few  sticks  were 
brought  in  and  divided,  not  an  eighth  of  a  cord  to  one  hundred  men. 
At  Andersonville  the  men  dug  roots  from  the  earth  with  which  to 
cook  their  food.  When  a  comrade  died  they  contested  for  the 
privilege  of  carrying  him  to  the  dead  pen  outside,  to  enable  them  to 
obtain  a  few  chips  or  sticks  by  way  of  barter  with  outsiders. 

Dying  comrades  were  everywhere  present,  in  their  rude  huts, 
often  alone.  Three  men' were  known  to  bid  each  other  good  bye  at 
night,  and  all  were  dead  by  morning.  Frequently,  the  first  evidence 
of  a  death  was  the  stench  that  came  from  some  burrow  in  the  ground. 
Often  they  dragged  themselves  into  the  swamp  to  quench  their 
burning  thirst  and  died  there.  Again,  they  were  found  dead  in  the 
sink,  amid  the  festering  mass  of  maggots.  Others  threw  themselves 
purposely  over  the  dead  line  and  were  shot  by  the  guards.  It  is  said 
their  passing  away  was  without  pain ;  as  if  angels  had  come  to 
welcome  and  pilot  them  from  that  Confederate  hell  to  Paradise. 

The  starvation  and  exposure  to  which  the  Confederate 
Government  purposely  and  needlessly  subjected  them,  produced  their 
quick  results.  A  healthy  boy  or  man  in  his  prime  would  be  captured 
and  frequently  but  ninety  days  would  be  necessary  thus  to  kill  him. 
Scurvy  was  very  prevalent.  It  was  quite  as  fatal  as  leprosy.  Often 
sores  would  form  on  their  swollen  limbs  and  bodies,  in  which  vermin 
festered.  Gangrene  ate  the  flesh  from  their  cheeks,  exposing  the 
bones  and  teeth,  and  reducing  them  to  a  skeleton,  with  lusterless  eyes, 
wild  looking  and  hollow.  Fever  and  diarrhea  wasted  others  away  and 


442  HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN 

many  wandered  about  in  a  half  naked  condition,  reason  gone  and  death 
certain. 

To  add  to  these  enormities,  a  band  of  Raiders  appeared  amongst 
them.  These  were  cut-throats,  thieves  and  scoundrels  in  shape  of 
bounty-jumpers  who  had  been  captured  and  here  plied  their  profession. 
Men  were  robbed  and  murdered  by  them.  A  vigilance  committee 
was  organized  among  the  prisoners  for  their  capture  which  was 
successful.  The  prison  authorities  preserved  no  order  in  the  pen  and 
left  disipline  all  to  the  men.  Their  sole  attention  seemed  to  be  given 
to  the  slow  starvation  process,  and  training  the  cannon  upon  the 
Stockade.  They  allowed  the  vigilants  to  take  the  raiders  into  a  seperate 
enclosure  that  surrounded  the  stockade.  There  they  were  tried  by 
a  select  jury  and  defended  in  manner  as  if  they  had  been  at  home. 
Six  of  them  were  convicted  and  hanged.  They  believed  it  all  a  joke 
as  they  approached  the  gallows,  but  the  grim  task  went  on  in  sight  of 
the  whole  Andersonville  stockade  and  many  who  came  from  the 
surrounding  country  to  witness  the  event.  The  rope  broke  as  one 
fell  and  he  ran  to  the  swamp  to  escape.  He  was  hunted  down  and 
swung  into  eternity  too.  This  had  a  beneficial  effect  upon  the  evil 
disposed  in  the  camp. 

At  Andersonville,  Georgia,  in  less  than  fourteen  months,  13,412 
prisoners  died  !  In  five  months  at  Salisbury,  North  Carolina,  4,728 
prisoners  died.  In  all  the  Confederate  prisons  the  number  of  deaths 
as  ascertained  by  the  number  of  known  Union  graves  was  36,401,  or 
a  mortality  per  cent  of  38.7  of  the  captures.  The  mortality  per  cent 
of  the  Confederate  captives  was  but  13.25,  In  addition  to  the 
terrible  mortality  among  the  Union  prisoners,  11,599  died  before 
reaching  their  homes,  and  of  those  who  did  reach  home,  12,000  died 
not  long  after,  making  an  army  of  60,000  unarmed  Union  prisoners  of 
war  who  were  thus  destroyed  by  the  barbarous  effects  of  prison 
ill-treatment.  At  Andersonville,  in  September,  1864,  one  in  every 
three  died !  In  October,  one  in  every  two  died ! 

Two  monsters  who  were  the  tools  of  the  Rebel  Confederacy  in 
causing  the  above  enormity  of  worse  than  murdered  lives,  were  John 
H.  Winder  and  Henry  Wirz.  When  the  former  left  the  Richmond 
prisons  to  assume  charge  of  Andersonville,  the  "  Examiner  "  said : 
"  God  have  mercy  upon  those  to  whom  he  has  been  sent."  His 
infamy  may  be  judged  by  his  issue  of  the  following : 


CONFEDERATE   PRISONS. 


443 


HEADQUARTERS,  ANDERSONVILLE  PRISON,  GA.,  July  27,  1864. 

Order  No.  13. — The  officers  on  duty  and  in  charge  of  the  Battery  at  the  time 
will,  upon  receiving  notice  that  the  enemy  has  approached  within  seven  miles  of  this 
post,  open  upon  the  stockade  with  grapeshot,  without  reference  to  the  situation  beyond 
these  lines  of  defense. 

JOHN  H.  WINDER, 
Brig.  Gen.  Commanding. 

Thus  twenty-five  cannon  were  to  be  opened  upon  the  35,000  sick 
and  dying  Union  prisoners,  rather  than  suffer  them  to  be  rescued  !  It  was 
like  savages  who  tomahawk  their  captives  when  re-capture  is  probable. 
And  now  come  forward  the  apologists  of  such  murderers  and  declare 
that  these  facts  had  better  never  been  written.  Then  expurgate  the 
account  of  the  crucifixion  from  the  testament,  burn  all  history  and 
leave  but  oblivion.  Let  these  truths  stand  prominently  out  as  beacon 
lights  to  the  civilized  world  what  demons  the  system  of  human  slavery 
will  make.  They  show  pointedly,  also,  the  sacrifices  and  cost  to 
preserve  this  nation. 

Confederate  testimony  is  ample  in  substantiating  the  universal 
narratives  of  the  Union  survivors  of  those  prison  pens.  The  archives 
of  the  Confederate  War  Department  furnish  conclusive  confirmations 


A   SECTION  OF  ANDERSONVILLE  PRISON.       FROM   A   REBEL  PHOTOGRAPH. 


444  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

of   their   horrible    accounts.      When    Winder   was    laying    out    the 
Andersonville    pen,    he   told    Mr.   Ambrose   Spencer,    a   resident    of 

Americus,  Ga.,    near   by,    "  The Yankees  who  would  be  put  in 

the  pen  would  need  no  barracks."     When  asked  why  he  was  cutting 
down  all  the  trees,  Winder  replied  :     "  I  am  going  to  build  a  pen  here 

that  will  kill  more Yankees  than  can  be  destroyed  at  the  front." 

The  Confederate  records  show  that  the  attention  of  Jefferson 
Davis  was  repeatedly  called  to  these  enormities,  by  the  Andersonville 
surgeons.  The  receipts  of  such  letters  and  reports  were  acknowledged 
and  confessed  by  indorsement  on  their  back  in  Jefferson  Davis'  own 
handwriting!  In  August,  1864,  when  the  pen  contained  35,000  men 
Lieutenant-Colonel  D.  T.  Chandler,  C.  S.  A.,  after  officially 
inspecting  the  Andersonville  prison,  thus  reported  to  Jefferson  Davis: 

There  is  no  medical  attendance  provided  within  the  stockade.  Small  quantities 
of  medicine  are  placed  in  the  hands  of  certain  prisoners  and  the  sick  are  directed  to 
be  brought  out  to  the  medical  officers  at  the  gate.  Only  the  strongest  can  get  access 
to  the  doctors,  the  weaker  ones  being  unable  to  force  their  way  through  the  press. 
Many  are  carted  out  daily  whom  the  medical  officers  never  have  seen.  The  dead  are 
hauled  out  daily  by  the  wagon  load,  and  burried  without  coffins,  their  hands  in  many 
instances  being  first  mutilated  vvith  an  axe  in  the  removal  of  any  finger  rings  they  may 
have.  The  sanitary  condition  of  the  prisoners  is  as  wretched  as  can  be,  the  principal 
causes  of  mortality  being  scurvy  and  chronic  diarrhea.  Nothing  seems  to  have  been 
done  to  arrest  it  by  proper  food.  The  ration  is  one-third  of  a  pound  of  bacon  and 
one  and  one-quarter  pound  of  unbolted  corn  meal,  with  fresh  beef  at  rare  intervals, 
and  occasionally  rice — very  seldom  a  small  quantity  of  molasses  for  the  meat  ration. 
A  little  weak  vinegar  unfit  for  use  has  sometimes  been  issued.  The  arrangements  for 
cooking  have  been  wholly  inadequate.  Raw  rations  have  to  be  issued  to  a  very  large 
proportion  who  are  entirely  unprovided  with  proper  utensils,  and  furnished  so  limited 
a  supply  of  fuel  they  are  compelled  to  dig  with  their  hands  in  the  filthy  marsh  for 
roots.  No  soap  or  clothing  has  ever  been  issued.  *  *  *  My  duty  requires  me  to 
recommend  a  change  in  the  officer  in  command  of  the  Post,  Brig.  Gen.  J.  H.  Winder, 
and  the  substitution  of  some  one  who  unites  good  judgment  with  some  feeling  of 
humanity  for  the  comfort  of  the  vast  number  of  unfortunates  under  his  control — some 
one  at  least  who  will  not  advocate  deliberately  and  in  cold  blood  the  propriety  of 
leaving  them  in  their  present  condition,  until  their  number  has  been  sufficiently 
reduced  by  death  to  make  the  present  arrangement  suffice  for  their  accomodation  ; 
who  will  not  consider  it  a  matter  of  self  laudation  and  boasting  that  he  has  never  been 
inside  of  the  stockade,  a  place  the  horrors  of  which  it  is  difficult  to  describe,  and  which  is  a 
disgrace  to  civilisation. 

The  above  report  from  Jefferson  Davis'  own  appointed  agent, 
was  acknowledged  as  received  by  him  in  his  own  handwriting,  and  yet, 
with  the  guilty  knowledge  of  such  enormities,  instead  of  removing 
this  fiendish  keeper,  Jefferson  Davis  promoted  him — John  H.  Winder 
— to  the  command  of  all  the  prisons  in  the  Confederacy,  thus  becoming 
a  particeps  criminis  of  all  those  murderous  methods.  The  above  is  a 


CONFEDERATE   PRISONS.  445 

Confederate  s  official    testimony    of   the   horrors  of   that    prison   pen 
which  will  ever  disgrace  the  Confederate  cause. 

The  following  document  in  possession  of  the  Government  is 
unanswerable  proof  of  the  settled  policy  of  the  Richmond  Government 
towards  Union  prisoners : 

CITY  POINT,  VA.,  March  17,  1863. 

SIR: — A  flag-of-truce  boat  has  arrived  with  350  political  prisoners.  I. wish  you 
to  send  me  all  the  military  prisoners  (except  officers)  and  all  the  political  prisoners 
you  have.  The  arrangement  I  have  made  works  largely  in  our  favor.  We  get  rid  of 
a  set  of  miserable  wretches,  and  receive  some  of  the  best  material  I  ever  saw.  *  *  * 

ROBERT  OULD, 
Confederate  Com'r  of  Exchange. 
To  Brig.  Gen.  John  H.  Winder,  C.  S.  A. 

No  apologies  from  the  southern  traitors  or  their  northern 
cowardly  sympathizers  can  wipe  out  such  evidence.  It  is  idle  to 
attempt  to  parallel  it  with  averments  as  to  the  treatment  of 
Confederate  prisoners  in  the  North.  Such  an  effort  has  recently  been 
made  in  the  Century  magazine,  wherein  certain  atrocities  of  similar 
kind  are  charged.  If  true,  they  deserve  the  branding  shame  of  the 
perpetrators.  If  false,  the  statement  deserves  the  opprobrium  of 
falsehood.  Is  it  not  strange  that  these  things  have  not  been  disclosed 
until  after  the  lapse  of  a  quarter  of  a  century?  What  southern  or 
northern  press  ever  alluded  to  them  in  those  days?  The  place  of 
such  averred  mistreatment  was  at  the  camp  for  Confederate  prisoners 
near  Indianapolis,  Indiana.  Here  were  the  headquarters  of  the 
Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle,  a  society  inimical  to  the  administration 
of  Lincoln,  an  opposer  of  every  war  policy  of  the  government 
and  a  treasonable  organization.  The  averred  mistreatment  of  the 
Confederate  prisoners  then  escaped  entirely  the  attention  of  those 
marplots  against  our  government.  However,  the  comparison  of  the 
death  rates  and  the  evidence  of  the  people  in  the  vicinity  prove  the 
falsity  of  the  Century  article.  As  previously  stated  in  this  article, 
the  Confederate  prisoners  had  the  same  treatment,  the  same  rations, 
the  same  medical  attention  and  care,  the  same  fuel  for  warmth,  that 
the  Union  soldiers  had  who  guarded  them,  and  when  released  were 
placed  right  back  in  the  Confederate  ranks  for  field  duty,  while 
scarcely  any  of  our  Union  prisoners  were  ever  fit  for  duty  after  their 
release.  We  have  diverged  from  our  subject  to  repel  the  statements 
in  the  Century  article,  feeling  that  justice  to  history  demanded  a 
refutation  of  what  even  every  sympathizer  of  the  southern  cause  in  the 
North  believes  to  be  a  malicious  fabrication. 


446  HISTORY   OF  THE  TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN. 

The  illustration  on  page  447  affords  a  general  idea  of  Andersonville 
Prison.  Far  down  towards  the  Florida  line,  sixty  miles  south  of 
Macon,  in  Sumpter  County,  Georgia,  was  located  this  infamous  den. 
The  reader  is  on  the  east  side  of  the  prison  looking  west.  In  the 
distance  the  cars  are  leaving  a  fresh  arrival  of  Union  captives.  The 
Sweetwater  Creek,  a  sluggish  stream  from  four  to  ten  feet  wide  and 
six  inches  deep — flanked  on  either  side  by  several  rods  of  swamp, 
meandered  from  the  railroad  down  through  the  pen.  This  was  cut 
from  a  solid  pine  forest  and  every  tree  but  three  cut  away  that  the 
men  might  have  no  shelter.  The  camp  of  the  guards  was  located  so 
that  the  stream  received  the  offal  from  the  vaults,  and  thus  polluted, 
flowed  through  the  pen.  And  of  this  the  prisoners  must  obtain 
their  supply  of  water. 

The  stockade  was  about  108  rods  long  by  forty-eight  rods  wide 
and  contained  about  thirty-six  acres,  of  which  six  acres  were  swamp, 
so  that  over  1,000  men  to  the  acre  were  turned  into  this  pen  like 
cattle,  without  shelter,  subject  to  the  cold  rains  and  hot  sun.  Dense 
forests  were  all  around  whence  they  could  have  obtained  material  for 
shelter  and  for  fuel,  but  these  privileges  were  denied.  The  illustration 
is  so  reduced  from  the  original  drawing  that  the  reader  must  observe 
closely  and  carefully,  to  understand  it,  but  the  study  will  repay  him. 
The  margin  shows  a  few  prison  incidents.  Commencing  on  the  right 
hand  is  a  picture  of  the  author  of  the  drawing,  Thomas  O'Dea,  who 
spent  several  months  in  the  den.  Above  him  is  an  illustration  of  the 
modes  of  punishment  for  trying  to  escape,  such  as  hanging  by  the 
thumbs,  wearing  a  ball  and  chain,  being  bucked  and  gagged,  and 
sitting  in  the  stocks.  The  next  shows  the  daily  visit  of  Wirz  to  the 
bloodhounds,  the  large  dog  Spot  appearing  in  front.  Above  this  some 
escaped  prisoners  are  being  pursued  in  the  woods  and  run  down  by 
the  bloodhounds.  Above  shows  a  man  coming  out  of  a  tunnel 
opening  outside  the  stockade.  The  picture  next  above  represents  the 
men  engaged  in  well  digging  and  tunneling  to  escape. 

The  right-hand  corner  picture  shows  the  breaking  away  of  the 
stockade  after  a  severe  storm.  The  water  flooded  the  swamp  and 
carried  off  the  putrid  matter  that  accumulated.  The  men  waded  into 
the  swamp  and  gathered  up  the  logs  for  fuel,  but  they  were  taken 
away  from  them.  To  the  left  is  an  indistinct  representation  of  the 
diseases  that  afflicted  the  men.  Again  to  the  left  is  a  dying  prisoner 
and  adjacent  thereto  his  final  thoughts  of  home  and  loved  ones — his 
wife  reading  his  last  letter,  his  babe  in  the  cradle,  etc.  The  top  center 


CONFEDERATE   PRISONS. 


447 


picture  represents  the  grave  yard.  A  load  of  dead  is  being  placed 
upon  the  ground— their  arms  and  legs  hanging  over  the  wagon  sides. 
In  a  long  trench  two  feet  deep  are  closely  placed  side  by  side  the 
emaciated  forms  of  men  of  health  but  a  few  weeks  before— now  starved 
to  the  grave.  This  same  dead  wagon,  reeking  with  filth  and  vermin, 
without  cleaning,  was  used  to  bring  back  into  the  stockade  the  food 
for  the  men  ! 


Next  to  the  left  is  the  shooting  of  a  man  too  near  the  dead  line, 
by  the  guard.  Then  appears  the  difficult  efforts  of  the  men  to  cook 
their  rations,  with  such  chips,  sticks  and  roots,  that  they  could  barter 
for  and  dig  from  the  ground.  In  the  left-hand  corner  may  be  seen  a 
representation  of  hanging  the  six  raiders.  Below  represents  the 
method  of  drawing  rations.  These  were  divided  as  equally  as  possible 
according  to  the  number  in  the  squad,  and  placed  on  a  blanket.  Each 
man  had  his  number  and  one  fellow  turned  his  back  to  the  rations. 
The  sergeant  then  pointed  to  a  pile  and  asked  "Who'll  have  this?" 
The  man  with  his  back  turned  would  say  "  No.  10,"  and  the  man  who 
bore  that  number  would  step  forward,  take  the  pile  and  devour  it. 

The  picture  next  below  the  ration  scene  represents  the  Providence 
Spring.  Just  inside  the  ''dead  line"  on  the  northwest  side  of  the 
swamp,  one  night  after  a  terrible  thunderstorm  when  shafts  of 


448  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH  MICHIGAN 

lightning  were  frequent,  a  fine  spring  of  pure  cold  water  burst  out  of 
the  ground  which  was  regarded  as  a  miracle  by  the  men,  many  of 
whom  averred  that  it  was  a  stroke  of  lightning  that  caused  it  to  come 
forth.  It  furnished  a  sufficient  quantity  of  fine  water  for  the  men 
during  their  confinement  therein.  This  spring  was  still  in  existance 
several  years  later  when  the  author  visited  the  prison  and  from  which 
he  quaffed  the  Nectarean  liquid.  The  scene  next  down  on  the  left 
represents  an  excitement  in  camp  caused  by  false  rumors  of  exchange, 
after  which  many  died  from  despondency.  The  next  scene  represents 
the  dead  brought  daily  to  the  gate  and  laid  down  to  be  carried  out  in 
the  "provision  wagon."  Below  is  a  picture  of  Father  Whelan,  of 
Savannah,  Georgia,  praying  among  the  living  and  dead. 

All  during  July,  1864,  the  prisoners  came  streaming  by  thousands.  In  all,  7,128 
during  that  month  were  turned  into  that  seething  mass  of  corrupting  humanity  to  be 
polluted  by  it  and  to  make  it  fouler  and  deadlier — fair  youths  in  the  first  flush  of 
hopeful  manhood ;  beardless  boys  rich  in  the  priceless  affections  of  homes  were  sent 
in  to  have  their  flesh  rotted  with  scurvy  and  bodies  burned  with  the  slow  fire  of 
famine.  These  35,000  young  men  were  cooped  up  on  thirteen  acres  of  ground.  There 
was  hardly  room  for  all  to  lie  down  at  night,  and  to  walk  a  few  hundred  feet  would 
require  an  hour.  The  weather  became  hotter  and  hotter.  At  midday  the  sand  would 
burn  the  hand.  The  thin  skins  of  fair  and  auburn  haired  men  blistered  under  the  sun's 
rays,  and  swelled  up  in  great  watery  puffs,  which  soon  became  the  breeding  grounds 
of  the  hideous  maggots  or  more  deadly  gangrene.  The  loathsome  swamp  grew  in 
rank  offensiveness  with  every  burning  hour.  The  pestilence  stalked  at  noon-day  and 
one  could  not  look  a  rod  in  any  direction  without  seeing  at  least  a  dozen  men  in  the 
last  frightful  stages  of  rotting  death. 

Immediately  around  my  own  tent  in  a  space  not  larger  than  a  good  sized  parlor 
was  a  scene  that  was  a  sample  of  the  whole  prison.  On  this  small  space  were  at  least 
fifty  of  us.  In  front  of  me  lay  two  brothers  in  the  last  stages  of  scurvy  and  diarrhea. 
Every  particle  of  muscle  and  fat  about  their  limbs  and  bodies  had  apparently  wasted 
away,  leaving  the  skin  clinging  close  to  the  bone  of  the  face,  arms,  hands  and  ribs — 
everywhere  except  the  feet  and  legs  where  it  was  swollen  and  distended  with  gallons 
of  purulent  matter.  Their  livid  gums,  from  which  most  of  their  teeth  had  already 
fallen,  protruded  far  beyond  their  lips.  To  their  left  lay  a  Sergeant  and  two  others, 
all  slowly  dying  from  diarrhea  and  beyond,  a  fair-haired  German  whose  life  was 
ebbing  away.  To  my  right  was  a  young  Sergeant  whose  left  arm  had  been  amputated 
and  he  was  turned  into  the  stockade  with  the  stump  undressed,  where  he  had  not 
been  an  hour  until  the  maggot  flies  had  laid  eggs  in  the  open  wound  and  before  the 
day  was  gone  the  worms  were  hatched  out  and  rioting  amid  the  inflamed  nerves 
where  their  every  motion  was  agony.  I  would  be  happier  could  I  forget  his  pale  face 
as  he  wandered  about  holding  his  maimed  limb  with  his  right  hand  and  occasionally 
pressing  from  it  a  stream  of  maggots  and  pus,  before  he  died.  This  is  what  one 
could  see  on  every  square  rod  of  the  prision. — McElroy' s  Andersonville. 

With  one  exception,  it  is  said  that  Catholic  Priests  were  the  only 
ministers  of  the  Gospel  who  ever  set  foot  in  Confederate  prisons.  In 
February,  1865,  on  the  last  Sunday  before  the  prisoners  were  sent 


CONFEDERATE    PRISONS. 


449 


FROM  PHOTOGRAPHS  TAKEN  BY  THE  U.   S.   GOVERNMENT  OP  UNION  SOLDIERS, 
JUST  AFTER  THEIR  RETURN  FROM  CONFEDERATE  PRISONS. 


450  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

North  from  Salisbury,  N.  C,  three  Southern  Methodist  Clergymen 
came  into  the  pen  and  preached.  They  said  they  were  Southerners 
and  had  for  a  long  time  been  aware  of  the  awful  crimes  that  were 
being  committed  in  that  prison,  but  they  wer$  powerless  to  prevent 
them.  They  had  sought  for  their  liberation  but  in  vain.  They  now 
came  in  to  tell  them  that  their  exchange  was  near  at  hand  and  that 
"  God  Almighty  would  never  prosper  any  government  wliich  practiced 
such  awful  cruelties  upon  its  defenseless  captives  /"  Several  prisoners 
have  told  the  author  that  some  of  the  Southern  people  condemned 
these  outrages  in  unmistakable  terms,  and  the  Southern  women  were 
moved  to  weeping  at  the  awful  looking  skeletons  and  emaciated  forms 
that  emerged  from  that  prison  hell.  The  great  trouble  with  the 
people  of  the  South  was  their  acquiesence  in  the  wicked  and 
treasonable  acts  of  their  leading  men  who  involved  the  South  in  the 
War.  Whatever  their  wicked  and  cowardly  so  called  Statesmen 
proposed  they  meekly  submitted  to  and  half  a  million  graves  is  the 
result  of  such  homage. 

The  fiend  Winder  who  superintended  the  southern  prisons  was 
stricken  to  death  by  apoplexy  at  the  depot  in  Florence,  S.  C.,  on 
New  Year's  Day,  1865,  and  after  the  war  his  pliant  follower  at 
Andersonville,  the  infamous  Wirz,  was  captured,  tried  and  hanged. 
The  cowardly  and  equally  infamous  Jefferson  Davis,  President  no 
longer  of  the  defunct  Confederacy,  was  captured  by  the  Fourth 
Michigan  Cavalry  while  escaping  disguised  in  his  wife's  clothes  !  Both 
he  and  his  entire  prisoner-starving  cabinet  should  have  swung  from  the 
same  gallows  with  Wirz  for  their  guilty  knowledge  of  the  crimes  for 
which  their  tool  was  executed,  and  which  they  approved  and  abetted. 

Though  bereft  of  spiritual  advisers  from  without,  except  as 
above  noted,  there  were  preachers  among  the  prisoners  who  organized 
prayer  meetings  and  held  services  frequently,  which  were  largely 
attended.  At  Andersonville,  these  "  Camp  Meetings "  were  held 
almost  nightly  and  were  powerful  in  evidences  of  divine  spirit.  The 
charnel  house  in  yonder  field  was  receiving  the  men  by  the  score,  and 
by  fifties  and  by  hundreds  each  day,  and  notwithstanding  the 
congregating  in  that  pent  up  den  of  so  many  different  characters, 


[A  very  good  pamphlet  narrative  on  Southern  prisons  is  published 
by  S.  S.  Boggs  of  Lovington,  111.,  for  twenty-five  cents.  We  are 
indebted  to  this  comrade  for  two  cuts  in  this  chapter.  McElroy's 
History  of  Andersonville,  by  the  Toledo  Blade  Publishing  Company, 
is  a  large  and  very  complete  history  of  prison  life.] 


CONFEDERATE   PRISONS. 


451 


there  was  a  strong  following  at  these  religious  meetings.  It  is  said 
that  the  singing  possessed  a  peculiar  pathos  from  the  surroundings 
and  was  never  surpassed  in  fervor  and  divine  beauty.  One  piece  was 
the  most  popular  of  any  and  we  here  reproduce  it  as  sung  nightly  at 
Andersonville  prison  : 


My  heavenly  home  is  bright  and  fair, 
Nor/a/«  nor  death  can  enter  there  ; 
Its  glittering  towers  the  sun  outshine  , 
That  heavenly  mansion  shall  be  mine. 

I'm  going  home,  I'm  going  home, 
I'm  going  home  to  die  no  more  ; 
To  die  no  more,  to  die  no  more, 
I'm  going  home  to  die  no  more, 

My  Father's  house  is  built  on  high, 
Far,  far  above  the  starry  sky. 
When  from  this  earthly  prison  free, 
That  heavenly  mansion  mine  shall  be. 


While  here,  a  stranger  far  from  home, 
Affliction's  waves  may  round  me  foam  ; 
Although,  like  Lazarus,  sick  and  poor, 
My  heavenly  mansion  is  secure. 

Let  others  seek  a  home  below, 
.Which  flames  devour  or  waves  o'erflow, 
Be  mine  the  happier  lot  to  own 
A  heavenly  mansion  near  the  throne. 

Then  fail  the  earth,  let  stars  decline 
And  sun  and  moon  refuse  to  shine, 
All  nations  sink  and  cease  to  be, 
That  heavenly  mansion  stands  for  me. 


\ 


(32) 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 


THE  IRON  BRIGADE. 


HISTORIES    of  the  war   make    honorable    mention    of   this 
celebrated  Brigade,  a  name  and  record  bought  with  blood. 
Fox,  in  his  Book  of  Losses,  ascribes  to  it  a  per  cfcntage  of 
loss,  in  proportion  to  its  numbers,  the  greatest  of  any  of 
the  Union  brigades.     It  was  composed  of  Western  men  who  possessed 
the  indomitable  pluck  of  that  section.      Early  in  the  war  it  won  for 
itself  a  noble  record  for  fortitude  and  bravery,  and  sustained  its  proud 
reputation  to  the  end.     Generals  confidently  relied  upon  it  and  gave 
it  positions  of  danger  and  honor.     Every   soldier  in  it  was  proud  to 
belong  to  his  particular  regiment  and  highly  proud  to  be  a  member  of 
this  Brigade.     Each  of  its  five  regiments  was  distinguished  for  some 
exceptional  excellence  and  all  combined  to  make  a  record  second  to 
none. 

In  a  recent  letter  to  the  author,  General  John  B.  Callis  of 
Lancaster,  Wis.,  thus  explains  the  origin  of  its  name  by  which  its  fame 
has  become  world-wide  : 

General  McClellan  told  me  at  the  Continental  Hotel  in  Philadelphia,. when  his 
grand  reception  was  given  there,  what  he  knew  of  the  origin  of  the  cognomen  Iron 
Brigade.  Said  he  :  "  During  the  battle  of  South  Mountain  my  Headquarters  were 
where  I  could  see  every  move  of  the  troops  taking  the  gorge  on  the  Pike  [National 
Road].  With  my  glass  I  saw  the  men  fighting  against  great  odds,  when  General 
Hooker  came  in  great  haste  for  some  orders.  I  asked  him  what  troops  were  those 
fighting  on  the  Pike.  His  answer  was:  'General  Gibbon's  Brigade  of  Western  men.' 
I  said,  'They  must  be  made  of  iron.''  He  replied,  'By  the  Eternal  they  are  iron.  If 
you  had  seen  them  at  Second  Bull  Run  as  I  did,  you  would  know  them  to  be  iron.' 
I  replied,  'Why,  General  Hooker,  they  fight  equal  to  the  best  troops  in  the  world.'  This 
remark  so  elated  Hooker  that  he  mounted  his  horse  and  dashed  away  without  his 
orders.  After  the  battle,  I  saw  Hooker  at  the  Mountain  House  near  where  the  Brigade 
fought.  He  sang  out,  'Now  General,  what  do  you  think  of  the  Iron  Brigade?'  Ever 
since  that  time  I  gave  them  the  cognomen  of  IRON  BRIGADE."  The  Twentv-fourth 
Michigan  did  not  join  us  until  after  all  this,  but  I  am  proud  to  say  they  proved 
themselves  to  contain  as  much  iron  as  any  regiment  in  the  Brigade. 

Thus  it  received  its  honorable  title  on  the  field  of  battle  from  the 
Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Army  —  a  distinction  it  excusably  may  be 

(452) 


THE   IRON    BRIGADE. 


453 


proud  to  boast  and  a  heritage  its  posterity  will  highly  .prize.  The 
Iron  Brigade  was  composed  of  the  Second,  Sixth  and  Seventh 
Wisconsin,  Nineteenth  Indiana  and  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  regiments 
of  Infantry  Volunteers.  From  time  to  time  some  other  troops  were 
temporarily  attached  to  it,  but  the  above  five  regiments  constituted 


TURNER'S  GAP,  SOUTH  MOUNTAIN,  WHERE  THE  IRON 
BRIGADE  WON  ITS  NAME. 


the  Iron  Brigade  of  the  West.  Gladly  would  we  give  a  full  history 
of  each  of  these  regiments  but  such  would  be  wholly  beyond  the 
scope  of  this  volume.  A  brief  reference  to  each  must  suffice. 

The  SECOND  WISCONSIN  was  enrolled  under  President  Lincoln's 
first  call  for  .75,000  three  months'  troops.  It  rendezvoused  at  Madison, 
Wis.,  during  the  first  week  of  May,  1861,  where  its  organization  was 
perfected  under  Colonel  S.  Park  Coon.  On  May  16,  the  men  all 
enlisted  for  three  years  except  one  company  whose  place  was  at  once 
supplied  by  the  "Wisconsin  Rifles"  of  Milwaukee.  The  regiment  was 
mustered  June  11,  1861,  and  on  the  2Oth  of  that  month  left  for 
Washington,  with  the  following  roster: 


454  HISTORY  OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Colonel— S.  Park  Coon  ;  Lieutenant-Colonel — Henry  P.  Peck  ;  Major — Duncan 
McDonald;  Adjutant — E.  M.  Hunter;  Quartermaster — James  D.  Ruggles  ;  Surgeon — 
James  M.  Lewis  ;  Assistant  Surgeons — Thomas  D.  Russell  and  P.  S.  Arndt ;  Chaplain 
— J.  C.  Richmond. 

Captains — George  H.  Stevens,  Wilson  Colwell,  David  McKee,  George  B.  Ely, 
Gabriel  Bouck,  William  E.  Strong,  John  Mansfield,  J.  F.  Randolph,  Thomas  S.  Allen, 
A.  J.  Langworthy.  First  Lieutenants — Edward  H.  Mann,  Frank  Hatch,  C.  K.  Dean, 
A.  B.  McLean,  John  Hancock,  A.  O.  Doolittle,  A.  S.  Hill,  A.  A.  Meredith,  W.  W. 
Lafleische,  Caleb  Hunt.  Second  Lieutenants — William  W.  Jones,  Robert  Hughes, 
William  Booth,  Dana  D.  Dodge,  H.  B.  Jackson,  Wm.  L.  Parsons,  Samuel  K.  Vaughn, 
Nat.  Rollins,  Thomas  B.  Bishop  and  William  A.  Hopkins. 

Soon  after  it  was  brigaded  with  three  New  York  regiments  under 
command  of  Colonel  William  Tecumseh  Sherman,  who  afterwards 
became  the  celebrated  Major-General.  On  July  16,  in  Tyler's 
Division,  it  moved  out  to  Centerville,  and  four  days  later  participated 
in  the  battle  of  Bull's  Run,  in  which  it  lost  twenty-three  killed  and 
mortally  wounded,  109  other  wounded,  six  of  whom  were  officers  and 
forty  prisoners,  besides  thirty-two  other  prisoners.  After  the  battle 
it  was  placed  in  defense  of  Fort  Corcoran.  Soon  after  Edgar 
O'Connor  of  the  regular  army  became  its  Colonel,  Lucius  Fairchild  its 
Lieutenant-Colonel  and  Captain  T.  S.  Allen  its  Major.  It  was 
transferred  on  August  25,  to  General  Rufus  King's  brigade  which 
then  consisted  of  the  Fifth  and  Sixth  Wisconsin  and  Nineteenth 
Indiana.  On  December  9,  1861,  Company  K  was  organized  as  heavy 
artillery  and  its  place  filled  on  the  3Oth,  by  a  new  company.  Its 
subsequent  history  was  identified  with  the  Iron  Brigade  until  May, 
1864.  After  the  battle  of  Laurel  Hill,  it  was  permanently  detached, 
May  11,  1864,  from  the  Iron  Brigade  to  whose  reputation  its  valor  had 
signally  contributed.  It  had  now  less  than  100  men  left  for  duty, 
with  both  field  officers  wounded  and  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  It 
was  engaged  as  provost  guard  of  the  Fourth  Division,  Fifth  Army 
Corps  and  on  June  II,  left  for  home  its  term  of  service  being  done. 

It  was  commanded  in  succession  by  Colonel  S.  Park  Coon, 
Colonel  Edgar  O'Connor  (killed),  Colonel  Lucius  Fairchild  and 
Colonel  John  Mansfield.  Out  of  a  total  enrollment  of  1,203  it 
sustained  a  death  loss  of  315  or  26.2  per  cent.  It  had  nearly  900- 
killed  and  wounded  and  according  to  Fox,  "  It  sustained  the  greatest 
percentage  of  loss  of  any  regiment  in  the  entire  Union  Army"  At 
Gettysburg,  it  lost  77  per  cent,  of  those  present,  Colonel  Fairchild  lost 
an  arm  and  its  Lieutenant-Colonel  George  H.  Stevens  was  killed. 
The  recruits  and  re-enlisted  men  were  organized  into  two  companies 
and  attached  to  the  Sixth  Wisconsin. 


LUOIl'S   FAIRCHII.D. 

(Brevet  Major-General,  U.  S.  Vols.) 


THE   IRON   BRIGADE.  457 

The  SIXTH  WISCONSIN  rendezvoused  at  Camp  Randall,  Madison, 
about  June  25,  1861,  and  was  mustered  July  16,  1861,  with  the 
following  roster: 

Colonel — Lysander  Cutler  ;  Lieutenant-Colonel — J.  P.  Atwood  ;  Major — B.  F. 
Sweet ;  Adjittant — Frank  A.  Haskell ;  Quartermaster — I.  N.  Mason  ;  Surgeon — C.  B. 
Chapman  ;  Assistant  Surgeons — A,  W.  Preston  and  A.  P.  Andrews  ;  Chaplain — Rev. 
N.  A.  Staples. 

Captains— A.  G.  Malloy,  D.  J.  Dill,  A.  S.  Hooe,  J.  O'Rourke,  E.  S.  Bragg, 
William  H.  Lindwurm,  M.  A.  Northrup,  J.  F.  Hauser,  Leonard  Johnson  and  R.  R. 
Dawes.  First-Lieutenants — D.  K.  Noyes,  J.  F.  Marsh,  P.  W.  Plummer,  John  Nichols, 
E.  A.  Brown,  Fred.  Schumacker,  G.  L.  Montague,  J.  D.  Lewis,  F.  A.  Haskell  and  J. 
A.  Kellogg.  Second-Lieutenants — F.  C.  Thomas,  Henry  Serrill,  J.  W.  Plummer,  P.  H. 
McCauley,  J.  H.  Marston,  Werner  Von  Bachell,  W.  W.  Allen,  J.  A.  Tester,  A.  T. 
Johnson,  John  Crane. 

It  arrived  in  Washington  August  7,  encamping  on  Meridian  Hill. 
It  joined  the  command  of  General  Rufus  King,  known  later  as  the 
Iron  Brigade,  "  which  was  destined  to  fill  such  a  glorious  place  in  the 
annals  of  the  war,"  and  with  which  this  regiment's  history  was 
subsequently  identified.  It  was  commanded  successively  by  Colonel 
Lysander  Cutler,  Colonel  Edward  S.  Bragg,  Colonel  Rufus  R.  Dawes  and 
Colonel  John  A.  Kellogg.  Its  total  enrollment  was  1940,  and  its  death 
loss  357 or  18.4  per  cent.  Its  total  killed  and  wounded  aggregated  867. 
Says  Fox :  "  Under  command  of  Colonel  Dawes  it  won  a  merited 
distinction  at  Gettysburg.  All  histories  of  this  field  mention  the 
maneuvre  by  which  a  part  of  a  Confederate  brigade  was  captured  by 
it  in  the  railroad  cut."  At  the  Wilderness,  its  Major,  Philip  W. 
Plummer,  was  killed.  Altogether  it  had  16  officers  killed,  which  was 
within  three  of  the  highest  number  of  any  regiment.  It  furnished 
two  full  commanders  of  the  Iron  Brigade  —  Generals  Cutler  and 
and  Bragg,  while  the  former  rose  to  the  rank  of  Division  General.  On 
December  31,  1863,  the  regiment  veteranized,  227  re-enlisting  for  three 
years.  They  continued  in  the  service  until  the  close  of  the  war,  being 
mustered  out  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  July  14,  1865,  and  arrived 
home  at  Madison,  Wis.,  on  the  :6th  of  that  month. 

The  SEVENTH  WISCONSIN  rendezvoused  also  at  Madison,  during 
August,  1861,  and  was  mustered  September  16,  1861,  with  the  following 
roster: 

Colonel — Joseph  Van  Dor  ;  Lieutenant-Colonel — W.  W.  Robinson  ;  Major — 
Charles  A.  Hamilton  ;  Adjutant — Charles  W.  Cook  ;  Quartermaster — Henry  P. 
Clinton  ;  Surgeon — Henry  Palmer  ;  Assistant  Surgeons — D.  Cooper  Ayers  and  Ernst 
Cramer  ;  Chaplain — Rev.  S.  L.  Brown. 


458  HISTORY  OF   THE  TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN. 

Captains — George  Bill,  J.  H.  Huntington,  Samuel  Nasmith,  E.  F.  Giles,  W.  D. 
Walker,  John  B.  Callis,  Samuel  Stevens,  Mark  Finnucan,  George  H.  Mather  and 
Alexander  Gordon.  First-Lieutenants — Hollon  Richardson,  S.  L.  Bacheldor,  A.  R. 
Bushnell,  C.  W.  Cook,  W.  F.  Bailey,  Samuel  Woodhouse,  Homer  Drake,  C.  M.  H. 
Meyer,  A.  S.  Rogers  and  F.  W.  Oakley.  Second- Lieutenants — M.  B.  Misner,  H.  P. 
Clinton,  E.  A.  Andrews,  A.  T.  Reed,  W.  B.  Manning,  Henry  F.  Young,  Samuel 
Kramer,  Robert  Palmer,  J.  N.  P.  Bird,  David  Sherrill. 

It  arrived  at  Washington  October  I,  and  was  assigned  to  General 
Rufus  King's  command  at  Camp  Lyon,  being  henceforth  identified 
with  the  history  of  the  Iron  Brigade.  Of  over  2,000  regiments  in  the 
Union  armies,  the  Seventh  Wisconsin  was  the  third  highest  to  sustain 
the  greatest  loss  in  killed  and  wounded,  a  total  loss  of  1,016.  The 
Sixth  Wisconsin  stands  tenth  on  the  list  and  the  Second  Wisconsin, 
thirteenth.  The  commanders  of  the  Seventh  Wisconsin  were 
successively  Colonel  Joseph  Van  Dor,  Colonel  William  W.  Robinson, 
Colonel  Mark  Finnucan  and  Colonel  Hollon  Richardson.  Out  of  a 
total  enrollment  of  1,630,  it  sustained  a  death  loss  of  424  or  26  per 
cent.  Its  percentage  of  killed  was  even  larger  if  the  conscripts,  but 
few  of  whom  reported,  were  excluded.  On  December  28,  1863,  it 
numbered  249  of  whom  211  veteranized.  It  was  mustered  out  at 
Louisville,  Kentucky,  July  3,  1865,  and  arrived  at  Madison,  Wis., 
on  July  5. 

The  NINETEENTH  INDIANA  was  organized  at  Indianapolis,  July 
29,  1861,  and  arrived  in  Washington  August  5th.  It  was  placed  in 
General  Rufus  King's  Brigade  with  the  two  Wisconsin  regiments. 
Its  commanders  were  successively  Colonel  Solomon  Meredith,  Colonel 
Samuel  T.  Williams,  (killed),  and  Colonel  John  M.  Lindley.  Colonel 
Meredith  became  commander  of  the  Iron  Brigade.  Out  of  an 
enrollment  of  1,246,  it  sustained  a  death  loss  of  317.  Its  total  killed 
and  wounded  was  712.  Its  first  battle  was  at  Manassas  where  it  lost 
259  out  of  423  engaged  or  61  per  cent.,  its  Major,  Isaac  M.  May  being 
killed.  At  Antietam,  its  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Alois  O.  Bachman  was 
killed,  and  Colonel  Williams  was  killed  in  the  Wilderness.  It 
participated  in  all  the  battles  of  the  Iron  Brigade  until  the  expiration 
of  its  term  of  enlistment  in  August,  1864,  when  the  few  remaining 
members  who  had  not  re-enlisted,  returned  home. 

The  Iron  Brigade  thus  organized  under  General  Rufus  King 
[See  page  215],  marched  on  September  3,  1861,  to  a  position  at  the 
chain  bridge  and  assisted  in  the  erection  of  fortifications.  During 
this  month,  the  Fifth  Wisconsin  was  permanently  detached  from  this 
Brigade  which  then  was  joined  to  McDowell's  Division.  On  October 


THE   IRON   BRIGADE.  459 

15,  it  went  into  Winterquarters  on  Arlington  Heights,  doing  out-post 
duty  until  March  10,  1862,  near  Falls  Church.  At  this  date  the 
Brigade  marched  out  sixteen  miles  to  Germantown  near  Fairfax 

o 

Court  House.  General  King  having  been  promoted  to  the  command 
of  the  Division,  Colonel  Lysander  Cutler,  of  the  Sixth  Wisconsin  took 
temporary  command  of  the  Brigade.  Returning  to  Fairfax  Seminary, 
it  remained  there  until  April  5th,  when  it  left  with  McDowell's  Corps 
for  the  Rappahannock.  Marching  by  Centerville,  Manassas  and 
Bristoe,  it  reached  Catlett's  on  the  I2th  and  guarded  the  railroad  until 
the  2 1st,  when  it  renewed  its  march  and  arrived  at  Falmouth  on  April 
23d.  On  the  27th,  it  marched  to  Brooks'  Station  and  worked  upon  a 
bridge  across  Akakeek  Run,  returning  May  2d,  to  Falmouth.  From 
here  detachments  were  sent  out  to  build  and  guard  bridges.  While 
thus  employed,  General  John  Gibbon  took  command  of  the  Brigade 
and  from  this  time  it  was  known  in  history  as  "  Gibbon's  Brigade" 
until  it  earned  and  received  the  famous  name  of  Iron  Brigade, 
under  which  its  name  will  be  contemporaneous  in  future  ages  with 
this  great  war. 

On  May  25,  1862,  it  crossed  the  Rappahannock  and  proceeded 
eight  miles  south  on  the  Bowling  Green  road  to  Guinea's  Station. 
On  the  29th,  it  moved  out  to  cut  off  the  retreat  of  the  Confederate 
General  Jackson  from  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  Proceeding  via 
Falmouth  and  Catlett's  to  Haymarket,  where  it  arrived  on  June  I,  it 
encamped  for  three  days.  On  June  5  it  moved  on  to  Warrenton. 
The  attempt  to  intercept  Jackson  having  failed,  it  began  the  return 
march  to  Falmouth  on  the  8th.  Marching  via  Warrenton  Junction 
and  Hartwood,  it  encamped  near  Falmouth,  June  10,  after  a  march  of 
104  miles. 

On  July  24,  it  left  Falmouth  on  a  reconnoissance  toward  Orange 
Court  House.  Advancing  via  Chancellorsville,  it  struck  the  enemy's 
pickets  on  the  26th,  a  mile  from  the  Court  House  and  a  skirmish 
followed  in  which  the  enemy  was  routed  and  a  few  prisoners  captured. 
Having  accomplished  the  object  of  the  expedition,  the  Brigade 
returned  to  Falmouth,  having  marched  eighty  miles  in  three  days. 

On  Aug.  5,  the  Sixth  Wisconsin  was  sent  to  Frederick's  Hall, 
twenty-three  miles  from  the  Junction  of  the  Richmond  and  Potomac 
railroad,  to  destroy  the  Virginia  Central  in  that  section.  It  tore  up  a 
mile  of  the  road  in  each  direction,  burned  a  large  warehouse  filled  with 
Confederate  supplies,  destroyed  the  depot  and  burned  two  bridges  on 
its  return.  Meanwhile  the  rest  of  the  Brigade  marched  on  the 
Telegraph  Road  and  on  Aug.  5,  engaged  the  enemey's  cavalry  at 


460  HISTORY   OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Thornburg  on  Ta  River.  On  the  6th,  it  pushed  forward  to  Beaver 
Dam  Station  on  the  Virginia  Central  where  the  rear  of  its  column  was 
attacked  by  Stuart's  cavalry.  It  repulsed  the  assault,  the  enemy  being 
driven  back  to  Fredericksburg  where  they  escaped,  carrying  off  with 
them  seventeen  men  of  the  Second  Wisconsin,  who  had  become 
exhausted  on  the  march  and  been  sent  back. 

On  Aug.  7,  the  Brigade  moved  to  Spottsylvania  Court  House, 
where  it  was  joined  by  the  Sixth  Wisconsin  which  had  marched  over 
100  miles  within  three  days,  going  thirty  miles  within  the  enemy's 
lines.  On  August  8,  it  returned  to  Falmouth  and  on  the  loth  marched 
by  Hartwood  Church,  twenty  miles  to  Barnett's  Ford,  where  it 
crossed  the  Rappahannock  and  pushed  forward  the  next  day  via 
Stevensburg  thirty  miles  to  Cedar  Mountain,  near  Culpepper  Court 
House,  where  it  took  position  in  the  advance  line  of  Pope's  army,  and 
took  part  in  the  movements  of  that  army. 

On  August  19,  the  Brigade  moved  in  the  direction  of  Rappahan 
nock  Station,  crossing  the  Rappahannock  the  next  day,  and  occupied 
a  position  north  of  the  railroad  whence  it  moved  to  the  right,  covering 
Beverly  Ford,  where  a  skirmish  with  the  enemy  occurred,  with  but  a 
trifling  loss  to  the  Brigade.  On  the  23d,  it  encamped  on  the  road  to 
White  Sulphur  Springs  near  Warrenton.  Moving  towards  the  White 
Sulphur  Springs  on  the  26th,  the  Brigade  skirmished  all  day  with  the 
enemy,  with  slight  loss.  On  August  27,  it  marched  by  Warrenton 
sixteen  miles  to  Buckland  Mills. 

On  the  afternoon  of  August  28,  the  Brigade  proceeded  slowly  on 
the  left  of  the  army,  by  Gainesville  to  Groveton,  where  it  turned  to 
the  right  on  the  Bethlehem  Church  road,  and  lay  under  arms  until  5 
o'clock.  It  then  returned  to  the  Warrenton  Pike,  marching  towards 
Centerville.  While  moving  by  the  flank,  the  Second  Wisconsin  in 
advance,  was  attacked  by  a  battery  upon  which  that  regiment 
promptly  advanced,  and  soon  came  upon  the  enemy's  infantry. 
While  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  rest  of  the  Brigade,  this  regiment, 
for  twenty  minutes,  checked  the  onset  of  "Stonewall"  Jackson's 
entire  Division,  under  a  murderous  concentric  musketry  fire.  The 
fight  was  continued  by  the  Brigade  until  9  o'clock  at  night  when  the 
enemy's  attack  was  repulsed,  although  holding  his  line.  They 
remained  until  midnight  to  bury  their  dead,  for  the  battle  had  been 
sharp  and  bloody,  when  the  Division  under  General  King  retreated 
by  the  Bethlehem  Road  to  Manassas  Junction,  where  it  arrived  at 
sunrise,  having  left  many  of  their  wounded  in  the  hands  of  the 
enemy. 


JOHN   GIBBON. 

(Major-General,  U.  S.  Vols.) 


SALOMON    MKItKUlTll. 

(Brevet  Major-General,  U.  S.  Vols.) 


^^^GBfc*&» 


-  SL. „., 

LYSANDER  CUTLER. 

(Brevet  Major-General,  U.  S.  Vols.) 


EDWARD   S.   BRAGG. 

(Brevet  Major-General,  U.  S.  Vols.) 


THE   IRON    BRIGADE.  463 

On  the  3Oth  of  August,  the  Brigade  participated  in  the  terrible 
battle  of  Manassas  or  Second  Bull's  Run,  repelling  with  great 
slaughter  the  attacks  of  the  enemy,  but  being  compelled  to  fall  back 
with  the  rest  of  Pope's  army.  An  eye  witness  said:  "Gibbon's 
Brigade  covered  the  rear,  not  leaving  the  field  until  9  o'clock  at  night, 
and  showing  so  steady  a  line  that  the  enemy  did  not  molest  them." 
On  September  I,  the  movement  to  the  rear  was  resumed  by 
Centerville  to  Upton's  Hill,  near  Washington,  which  was  reached  on 
the  2d. 

On  September  6,  the  Brigade  went  with  McClellan  to  intercept 
Lee's  invasion  of  Maryland.  Marching  by  Mechanicsville  and  New 
Market,  a  distance  of  80  miles,  it  reached  Frederick  City,  Maryland, 
on  Sunday,  September  14.  Passing  directly  through  the  city  it 
moved  on  the  National  Pike  to  Turner's  Pass  in  the  South  Mountain 
range,  where  the  enemy  was  strongly  posted  in  the  gorge,  across  the 
National  Road.  The  duty  of  storming  this  position  was  assigned  to 
Gibbon's  Brigade.  The  assault  began  at  5:30  P.  M.,  and  at  9  o'clock 
the  enemy  was  routed  and  driven  from  the  Pass.  It  was  here  that  it 
acquired  the  immortal  name  of  IRON  BRIGADE  by  which  it  was 
thereafter  known. 

On  September  I5th,  leading  Hooker's  Division  in  advance  of  the 
entire  army,  it  pursued  the  retreating  enemy  through  Boonsboro  for 
fourteen  miles  to  Antietam  Creek  where  it  had  a  skirmish  but  no  loss. 
On  the  morning  of  September  I7th,  the  Iron  Brigade  began  the 
bloody  battle  of  Antietam  and  soon  became  hotly  engaged,  dislodging 
the  enemy  in  its  front  and  occupying  the  position  until  relieved  by 
fresh  troops.  On  the  I9th,  the  Brigade  went  into  camp  near  the 
Potomac  in  sight  of  Sharpsburg  where  it  remained  for  a  month. 
During  its  bivouack  here,  it  was  joined  by  the  Twenty-fourth 
Michigan.  Its  subsequent  movements  are  interwoven  in  the  history 
of  this  regiment,  not  so  completely  as  we  could  wish  for,  but  quite  as 
much  as  the  limits  of  the  volume  will  allow. 

During  the  brief  period  from  August  28,  to  September  17,  1862, 
the  Iron  Brigade  fought  in  four  bloody  battles — Gainesville,  Second 
Bull's  Run,  South  Mountain  and  Antietam — and  sustained  a  loss  of 
287  killed,  1,118  wounded  and  177  missing,  an  aggregate  loss  of  1,582 
men  inside  of  twenty  days. 

Out  of  over  2,000  regiments  in  the  Union  Army,  the  records  of 
the  regiments  of  the  Iron  Brigade  make  a  most  honorable  showing. 
In  percentages  of  killed  and  died  of  wounds,  the  Second  Wisconsin 
stands  first,  the  Seventh  Wisconsin  stands  sixth,  and  the 


464  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

Twenty-fourth  Michigan  stands  nineteenth.  The  aggregate  killed  and 
died  of  wounds  of  the  five  regiments  of  this  Brigade  was  1,131,  and, 
as  has  already  been  quoted,  Fox  says:  "  In  proportion  to  its  numbers 
this  Brigade  sustained  the  heaviest  loss  of  any  in  the  war.  Its 
aggregate  losses  is  exceeded  in  only  one  instance." 

At  Gainesville  and  Second  Bull's  Run,  this  Brigade  lost  894  out 
of  2,000  engaged.  At  Gettysburg  it  had  1,153  casualties  out  of  1,883 
engaged,  or  61  per  cent.  Some  of  the  regiments  of  the  Iron  Brigade 
suffered  the  greatest  losses  of  any  regiment  engaged.  At  Gainesville, 
the  Second  Wisconsin  suffered  the  most  losses,  the  Nineteenth 
Indiana  next,  and  the  Seventh  Wisconsin  next.  At  Gettysburg,  the 
greatest  battle  of  the  war,  out  of  over  400  regiments  there  engaged, 
the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  sustained  the  greatest  loss.  At  the 
Wilderness,  this  honor  fell  to  the  Seventh  Wisconsin,  and  at  Dabney's 
Mill  to  the  Sixth  Wisconsin. 

The  War  Department  records  show  the  following  for  the 
Iron  Brigade: 

Total  Battle          Disease          Total          Per  Cent. 

Strength.          Deaths.         Deaths.         Deaths.       of  Deaths. 

Second  Wisconsin 1,200  238  80  318  26.5 

Sixth  Wisconsin 1,940  244  116  360  18.6 

Seventh  Wisconsin 1,630  281  146  427  26.2 

Nineteenth  Indiana 1,250  179  128  307  24.6 

Twenty-fourth  Michigan 1,240  176*  142  318  25.6 

Aggregate 7,260         1,118  612         1,730  23.8 

In  behalf  of  the  Sixth  Wisconsin,  it  is  proper  to  state  that  in  its 
aggregate  of  strength  is  included  Company  K,  which  early  left  it  for 
artillery  service  and  whose  place  was  filled  by  another  company 
but  the  death  rates  of  the  detached  company  do  not  figure  thereafter 
with  this  regiment.  Should  they  do  so,  its  per  cent  of  death  loss 
would  mount  up  to  that  of  the  other  regiments  of  the  Brigade.  It  is 
also  proper  to  state  that  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan's  loss  occurred 
during  a  period  of  two  and  one-half  years  only  at  the  front,  as  against 
three  and  four  years  at  the  front  by  other  regiments  of  this  Brigade. 
But  comparisons  are  often  unsatisfactory  and  we  shall  leave  the  rest 
to  others. 

The  light  of  subsequent  years  has  slightly  changed  the  above 
figures  of  casualties  and  losses  by  disease,  not  sufficiently,  however,  to 
destroy  their  significance.  The  above  table  exhibits  the  totalities  of 


*Fox   places   this   number   at   189    but    the    author    cannot    find    so    many,    unless   some  in   the 
"unaccounted  for"  and  "desertion"  lists  belong  there. 


THE   IRON    BRIGADE.  465 

mortuary  losses  and  is  quite  as  instructive  as  if  in  battle  detail,  for  in 
the  latter,  the  few  losses  in  the  smaller  regiments  do  not  show  up  with 
the  highest  loss  figures  in  the  large  regiments. 

This  Brigade,  by  its  intrepidity  at  Gainesville  in  Pope's  Campaign, 
saved  its  division  from  utter  rout  and  ruin  and  to  it  must  be  credited 
the  chief  burden  of  the  Confederate  assault  at  Gettysburg.  Its  record 
in  this  battle  is  a  central  point  in  war  histories.  Its  dress  was  unique, 
being  dark  colored  and  tall  vblack  hats  somewhat  bell-shaped,  with 
broad  brims,  by  which  they  were  always  recognized  by  friend  and  foe. 

The  Iron  Brigade  was  commanded  successively  by  Generals  Rufus 
King,  John  Gibbon,  Solomon  Meredith,  Lysander  Cutler,  Edward  S. 
Bragg,  William  W.  Robinson  and  Henry  A.  Morrow.  It  participated 
in  the  following  battles :  Blackburn's  Ford,  First  Bull's  Run, 
Gainesville,  Second  Bull's  Run,  South  Mountain,  Antietam,  Fredericks- 
burg,  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Locust  Grove, 
Mine  Run,  Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  Salient  at  Spottsylvania,  Jericho 
Ford,  North  Anna,  Tolopotomoy,  Bethesda  Church,  Cold  Harbor, 
Petersburg,  Siege  of  Petersburg,  Weldon  Railroad,  Hatcher's  Run, 
Dabney's  Mill,  White  Oak  Road,  Five  Forks  and  Appomattox,  not  to 
mention  numerous  skirmishes,  raids  and  reconnoissances: 

During  the  Wilderness  campaign  in  1864,  the  Seventh  Indiana 
was  attached  to  this  Brigade  until  it  was  mustered  out  in  August. 
The  First  New  York  Sharp  Shooters'  Battalion  was  also  attached  to 
it  for  a  time,  joining  it  in  the  fall  of  1863.  After  the  Twenty-fourth 
Michigan  left  it  February,  1865,  the  Sixth  and  Seventh  Wisconsin 
with  those  of  the  Second  that  had  veteranized  joined  the  First 
Brigade,  Third  Division,  Fifth  Corps. 

At  the  reunion  camp-fire  of  the  Iron  Brigade  held  in  Detroit  in 
1890,  General  Russel  A.  Alger,  then  National  Commander  of  the  G. 
A.  R.,  spoke  as  follows : 

"  I  wish  to  say  that  we  are  as  proud  of  you  as  though  we  were  fortunate 
enough  to  belong  to  your  splendid  Brigade.  I  cannot  talk  to  you  as  intelligently  as 
though  I  were  one  of  your  number,  but  I  want  to  thank  you  for  the  noble  service  you 
did  our  country.  You  may  live  in  prosperity  or  adversity,  you  may  be  ruddy  with 
the  glow  of  health  or  crippled  by  the  bullet  of  the  foe,  but  you  will  leave  a  legacy  to 
your  children  and  your  children's  children  that  money  cannot  buy.  I  have  traveled 
much  and  been  astonished  at  the  wonderful  progress  of  the  land  into  which  you 
breathed  the  breath  of  a  new  life.  You  are  no  doubt  astonished,  as  I  have  been,  with 
the  figures  of  the  Nation's  growth,  and  in  our  great  prosperity  it  must  be  pleasant  to 
you,  it  must  compensate  for  privations  endured  and  misfortunes  encountered,  to  think 
that  with  your  numberless  comrades  you  laid  anew  the  foundation  of  this  great  land. 


466  HISTORY  OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH   MICHIGAN. 

"  Let  this  Nation  remember  that  3,000,000  of  you  went  upon  the  bloody  field  of 
war.  Let  it  remember  that  upon  its  bill  book  was  a  debt  almost  boundless  in  its 
dimensions,  and  let  it  further  call  to  mind  its  political  bankruptcy  and  great  moral 
disgrace.  Upon  the  other  side  of  this  book  you  placed  your  names  ;  pledges  they 
were  to  redeem  our  land.  You  promised  to  re-establish  our  credit,  to  wipe  out  our 
disgrace,  to  preserve  our  sisterhood  of  commonwealths,  and  you  did  it.  Talk  of  pay 
for  your  deeds  of  valor,  for  your  dauntless  courage  and  noble  fortitude  !  Patriotism 
like  yours  cannot  be  bought  and  sold,  cannot  be  compensated.  Of  the  Twenty-fourth 
Infantry  I  want  to  say  that  you  are  the  pride  of  Michigan,  and  a  glory  to  the  Nation." 

Phil  Cheek  of  Milwaukee,  Past-Department  Commander  G.  A. 
R.,  and  private  of  the  Sixth  Wisconsin,  then  entertained  the  veterans 
with  a  speech  full  of  wit,  pathos  and  reminiscence,  which  also 
contained  matters  of  historical  interest  to  the  Iron  Brigade.  After 
noting  the  absence  of  many  of  the  old  officers,  he  said : 

"  But  if  all  the  officers  had  run  out,  there  wasn't  a  man  in  the  Iron  Brigade 
that  wouldn't  have  made  a  first-class  Brigadier-General.  Commander  Alger  has  said 
we  never  turned  back.  At  that  Second  Bull  Run,  when  we  came  marching  out  of  the 
woods  and  found  the  Johnnies  flanking  us  on  both  sides  and  saw  those  double-shot 
Napoleon  guns,  we  knew  there  was  to  be  music.  There  we  were — the  '  Swamp  Hogs 
No.  19,'  the  lean  lank  Indianians,  the  'Ragged  Second,'  the  'Calico  Sixth,'  the 
'  Huckleberry  Seventh  '  and  you  Michiganders,  so  brand-new  and  bright  we  called 
you  the  '  Featherbed  Twenty-fourth.'  And  there  we  lay  supporting  the  battery.  You 
know  how  we  supported  the  batteries,  lying  on  our  stomachs.  Well,  the  batteries 
opened  and  the  field  looked  like  windrows  in  a  hay  field.  We  just  rose  upon  our 
hands  and  knees  and  took  in  the  spectacle,  and  one  of  the  Indianians  yelled  out,  '  Hi, 
set  'em  up  on  the  other  alley  ;  they're  all  down  on  this  ! '  And  then  away  we  run  half 
a  mile  to  the  Bull  Run  bridge,  the  Johnnies  at  our  heels  yelling,  '  Git,  git,  you 
Yanks!'— and  we  got  !  ^ 

"  I  am  proud  of  our  Brigade,  but  we  ran.  How  I  skedaddled  with  my  short 
legs,  and  I  wished  I  was  as  short  as  that' — (indicating  with  his  hands  the  height  of  a 
plug  hat.)  In  fact,  I  wished  I  hadn't  been  born.  You  know  how  scared  they  were  in 
Washington  to  see  a  dirty  soldier  from  the  front.  Well,  one  of  them  at  last  got  there. 
'  Where  did  you  come  from  ?'  '  Beyant  in  the  field.'  'And  you  a  soldier?'  'Yes, 
and  a  good  one.'  'And  you  ran  from  the  fight?'  'Yes,  and  the  d — d  fools  that 
didn't  are  there  yet ! ' 

''  When  we  went  down  to  the  Potomac  in  "61  we  were  the  only  Western 
soldiers  in  the  entire  army,  and  we  would  have  died  rather  than  have  dishonored  the 
West.  We  felt  that  the  eyes  of  the  East  were  upon  us,  and  that  we  were  the  test  of 
the  West.  What  made  us  good  soldiers  ?  Was  it  because  we  were  gritty  and  didn't 
blanch?  Or  because  amid  the  'zip-zip'  of  the  bullets  we  didn't  feel  a  peculiar 
corkscrew  sensation  when  we  felt  that  some  Johnny  had  the  drop  on  us  ?  No,  it  was 
our  pride  !  We  had  rather  have  died  than  been  branded  as  cowards  !  We  stood  when 
commanded  to  stand,  and  when  ordered  to  go — we  got  ! 

"At  Gettysburg,  comrades,  no  regiment  there  in  all  that  fight  lost  more  killed 
than  did  the  old  Twenty-fourth  Michigan — the  '  Featherbeds.'  We  won't  talk  about 
the  'Calico  Sixes;  that  was  my  regiment.  Think  of  Queen  Victoria  in  person 
decorating  the  heroes  of  that  Abyssinian  war,  of  which  I'll  wager  most  of  us  never 


WILLIAM   W.    ROBINSON. 

(Brigadier-General,  U.  S.  Vols.) 


HENRY   A.    MORROW. 

(Brevet  Major-General,  U.  S.  Vols.) 


JOHN  A.   KELLOGG. 

(Brevet  Brigadier-General.) 


RUFUS   R.    DAWES. 

(Colonel  of  Sixth  Wisconsin.) 
(Brevet  Brigadier-General,  U.  S.  Vols.) 


THE   IRON    BRIGADE.  469 

heard.  I  tell  you,  I  wouldn't  give  for  those  little  badges  of  the  Iron  Brigade  any 
possesion  I  have  or  could  have  outside  of  my  wife  and  children.  We  are  all  'loyal 
legioneers' — that  is,  I  am  not;  I  was  a  private.  There  are  so  many  officers  now, 
though,  that  I  enjoy  the  distinction  of  being  the  only  surviving  private  of  the  war  !" 

The  nicknames  possess  an  humorous  fact  of  history.  The  one 
applied  to  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  was  because  they  were  the 
last  from  home.  The  "  Ragged "  Second  Wisconsin  was  the  more 
euphonious  name  for  that  regiment.  This  arose  from  the  fact  that 
the  government  contractors  seemed  to  have  run  short  of  good  material 
when  they  made  the  pantaloons  for  that  regiment,  allowing  their 
"flags  of  truce"  always  to  be  kept  in  their  rear,  and  a  half  abandon 
delight  all  to  appear  in  uniform,  prevailed  among  them.  Once  on  a 
review  they  were  drawn  up  for  inspection  in  their  usual  ragged  pants, 
and  the  General's  carriage  with  his  little  daughter  therein  stood 
directly  behind  them.  Presently  she  said  :  "  Pa,  wouldn't  it  be  just 
as  well  if  our  carriage  stood  in  front  of  this  regiment  ?  " 

The  noble  record  of  the  Iron  Brigade  will  not  be  dimmed  by 
time.  Not  that  they  were  better  soldiers  or  patriots  than  others, 'but 
because  the  fortunes  and  misfortunes  of  war  placed  them  where  the 
fight  was  thickest.  The  Detroit  Evening  Journal  has  fittingly  said: 

"Almost  every  war  brings  some  regiment  or  other  military  body  to  the  front 
which  distinguishes  itself  for  special  valor,  constancy  or  endurance.  Cromwell's 
Ironsides  Regiment,  Caesar's  Tenth  Legion,  the  Old  Guard  of  Napoleon,  the  Light 
Brigade  at  Balaklava,  are  all  illustrious  of  this  fact.  Among  these  bands  of  heroes 
should  be  enrolled  the  '  Iron  Brigade.'  " 


BATTERY   B,   FOURTH    U.    S.   ARTILLERY. 

This  important  annex  to  the  Iron  Brigade  has  a  charmingly 
interesting  record.  Its  organization  dates  far  into  the  early  years  of 
the  Republic.  The  nucleus  of  this  Battery  did  service  in  the  War  of 
1812,  as  a  rifle  company  at  the  battle  of  Plattsburg.  In  1821,  we  read 
of  its  separate  organization  into  "  Battery  B,  Fourth  U.  S.  Artillery," 
when  its  pieces  were  dragged  around  by  the  men  with  ropes.  In  1837, 
it  was  " horsed"  and  detailed  to  duty  in  Florida,  where  its  guns  were 
parked  and  the  men  acted  as  dragoons.  In  1842,  it  was  sent  to 
Ogdensburg  during  Canadian  troubles.  In  1845,  it  was  sent  to  the 
Rio  Grande  with  General  Taylor.  At  this  time  Darius  N.  Couch, 
subsequently  a  Major-General,  was  a  Second-Lieutenant  in  the  Battery. 
When  La  Vega's  Mexican  Battery  was  captured  at  Resaca,  two  of  its 
four-pounders  were  turned  in  to  Battery  B,  which  had  already  four 


470 


HISTORY   OF   THE  TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


brass  six-pounders  and  two  twelve-pound  howitzers,  requiring  a 
strength  of  140  men  to  man  them.  It  was  in  the  siege  of  Monterey 
and  then  did  guard  service  at  Saltillo.  On  February  23,  1847,  at 
Buena  Vista,  the  Mexicans  charged  the  Battery  and  captured  one  of 
its  guns,  but  only  after  every  cannoneer,  driver  and  horse  attached  to 


BATTERY  B   IN   ACTION. 


THE   IRON    BRIGADE.  4/1 

it  was  killed  or  wounded.  After  the  Mexican  War  it  was  stationed 
until  1856  on  the  Rio  Grande,  when  it  was  sent  to  Fort  Leavenworth 
where  it  arrived  in  March,  1857.  In  July  following  it  was  sent  with 
the  army  to  Utah  to  settle  the  Mormon  troubles.  It  remained  at 
Camp  Floyd  near  Salt  Lake  City  until  May,  1860,  when  its  men  were 
mounted  and  sent  out  to  fight  Indians.  In  July,  1861,  it  was  ordered 
east  and  arrived  at  Washington  in  October,  when  it  was  put  upon  a 
full  war  footing  under  Captain  John  Gibbon,  who  had  taken  charge  of 
it  the  year  before  in  Utah.  It  was  attached  to  King's  Division  of 
McDowell's  Corps. 

When  Captain  Gibbon  was  promoted  to  the  command  of  what 
afterwards  was  known  as  the  Iron  Brigade,  Lieutenant  Joseph  B. 
Campbell  took  command  of  the  Battery  which  was  recruited  to  its 
full  complement  by  men  from  the  regiments  in  that  Brigade  and  thus 
this  Brigade  and  Battery  became  closely  allied  to  each  other,  it  being 
virtually  a  part  of  the  Iron  Brigade.  In  1851,  Sergeant  James 
Stewart,  left  New  York  City  for  duty  with  this  Battery  in  Texas. 
In  1861,  he  was  promoted  to  a  Second-Lieutenant  in  the  Battery. 
On  August  28,  1862,  it  did  good  service  at  the  battle  of  Gainesville 
and  again  at  Groveton,  August  30.  It  was  heavily  engaged  at  the 
South  Mountain  Pass,  September  14;  and  was  also  severely  engaged 
at  Antietam.  Here,  after  its  commander  and  men  had  rapidly  fallen, 
within  thirty  paces  of  the  enemy,  and  the  working  of  the  guns  thus 
became  impeded,  General  John  Gibbon,  in  full  uniform,  acted  as 
gunner  himself  and  drove  the  enemy  under  cover.  The  Battery  lost 
forty  out  of  100  men  in  this  action.  Lieutenant  James  Stewart  now 
became  .its  commander  and  it  was  henceforth  known  as  Stewart's 
Battery  and  ranked  among  the  very  highest  in  that  branch  of  the 
service  until  the  close  of  the  war.  It  proved  worthy  of  association 
with  the  Iron  Brigade.  And  why  not?  Were  not  its  men  detailed 
from  the  ranks  of  the  several  regiments  of  that  Brigade  and  made  up 
of  the  same  western  pluck?  The  enemy  learned  early  to  respect  and 
fear  it,  for  its  work  was  unerring  and  deadly.  Its  deep  mouthed 
belchings  gave  tone  and  confidence  to  the  Brigade  on  many  a  field. 
Its  music  cheered  the  men  on  to  the  combat  in  many  a  bloody 
struggle,  and  when  the  records  of  the  war  were  sifted  and  sorted,  like 
the  Brigade  with  which  it  was  associated  it  stood  first.  Colonel 
William  F.  Fox,  has  thus  written  of  this  Battery: 

The  "Cannoneer"  is  correct  in  claiming  for  his  Battery  the  greatest  aggregate 
losses  of  any  light  Battery  in  the  service.  There  is  no  doubt  but  that  more  men  fell 
at  Stewart's  guns  than  in  any  other  Battery  in  the  Union  Armies. 


472 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


We  shall  attempt  no  extended  allusions  to  the  records  of  this 
celebrated  Battery.  The  above  brief  testimony  from  the  accepted 
Statistician  of  the  Civil  War  is  evidence  that  a  history  of  said  Battery 
must  prove  interesting  and  we  are  pleased  to  say  to  all  who  would 
like,  in  imagination,  to  ride  down  through  the  awful  battles  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  on  a  cannon  without  getting  injured,  send  one 
dollar  and  a  half  to  the  National  Tribune  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  for  a 
copy  of  the  "CANNONEER"  which  is  a  full  and  complete  history  of 


this  celebrated  Battery  and  contains  also  a  vast  amount  of  invaluable 
war  reading,  written  by  Augustus  Buell  of  Washington,  D.  C. 

There  was  one  "comrade"  in  this  Battery  to  which  we  have 
promised  our  readers  to  make  reference  here  —  Old  Tartar,  Lieutenant 
Stewart's  horse,  or  "Old  Bobtail"  as  he  was  called  after  his  caudal 
annex  had  been  shot  off  in  battle.  We  give  below  "  Old  Bob's" 
biography  from  the  pen  of  Captain  Stewart  of  Carthage,  Ohio,  to  the 
author  of  the  "  Cannoneer": 

DEAR  COMRADE: — You  ask  for  Tartar's  "biography."  His  military  record  is 
as  follows  :  He  entered  the  service  at  Fort  Leavenworth  in  July,  1857,  just  before 
Battery  B  started  on  the  Utah  expedition,  and  was  then  four  years  of  age.  Before 
reaching  Utah,  he  was  taken  sick  with  distemper  of  a  malignant  type,  so  we  had  to 


THE    IRON    BRIGADE.  473 

abandon  him  when  we  left  Green  River  Camp,  Salt  Lake.  The  following  spring, 
General  Albert  Sidney  Johnston  offered  $30  apiece  for  abandoned  horses  branded  "U. 
S."  I  was  at  the  tent  of  Major  Fitz  John  Porter  one  morning  when  two  Indians  came 
in  with  a  couple  of  horses,  one  of  which  was  Tartar.  I  had  him  taken  over  to  the 
Battery.  In  the  summer  of  1860  the  personnel  of  the  Battery  was  formed  into  Cavalry 
to  keep  open  the  mail  and  pony  express  between  Salt  Lake  and  Carson  City,  during 
which  Tartar's  average  work  was  from  forty  to  fifty  miles  a  day.  Early  in  1861  the 
Battery  marched  from  Utah  to  Fort  Leavenworth,  whence  by  rail  to  Washington.  At 
the  Second  Bull  Run  Tartar  was  struck  by  a  shell,  carrying  away  his  tail,  and 
wounding  both  hips,  or  hams.  At  first  I  thought  I  could  not  use  him  any  more  and 
turned  him  into  a  small  field.  The  next  morning  he  jumped  the  fence  and  followed 
the  Battery. 

Sometime  after  this  President  Lincoln  reviewed  the  army  in  front  of  Fredericks- 
burg.  After  I  had  passed  in  review  riding  Tartar,  I  was  sent  for,  to  allow  the 
President  to  look  at  the  horse's  wound.  As  soon  as  Mr.  Lincoln  saw  it  he  said:  "This 
reminds  me  of  a  tale  !"  which  he  proceeded  to  relate  with  great  amusement.  His 
little  son  "Tad,"  mounted  on  a  pony  insisted  on  trading  horses.  He  persisted  in 
telling  me  that  his  papa  was  the  President  and  would  give  any  horse  I  wanted  in  trade 
for  Tartar.  I  had  a  hard  time  to  get  away  from  the  little  fellow. 

Tartar  was  again  wounded  at  Fredericksbug  and  after  that  it  was  difficult  to  get 
him  to  stand  under  musketry  fire.  The  day  before  we  reached  Gettysburg  he  was 
lamed  by  running  a  nail  into  one  of  his  fore  feet,  and  did  not  go  into  the  battle.  In 
pursuit  of  Lee  he  could  not  keep  up  and  I  left  him  with  a-farmer  on  the  road.  About 
a  month  afterward  a  friend  informed  me  that  he  had  seen  him  over  in  Kilpatrick's 
Cavalry  tied  up.  I  went  over  and  got  him.  This  was  in  August,  1863.  He  served 
through  the  war  and  was  at  Appomattox.  In  1866  I  left  Tartar  with  the  Battery,  in 
the  tenth  year  of  his  service. 


DOC.    C.    B.    AUBERY, 
IRON    BRIGADE   NEWSBOY. 


(33) 


CHAPTER     XXIV. 


OUR  LAST  MARCH. 


KNAPSACK  we  shoulder  now  for  a  tramp  to  our  last  camp 
ground.     Many   months   the  author   has   devoted    to    this 
compilation.     The  time  has  arrived  when  the  result  of  all 
this  labor  must  go  to  the  type-room.     From  the  first  axe- 
stroke  against  the  mighty  forest  oak  to  the  launch  of  the  ship,  much 
good  material  accumulates  which  must  be  left  behind.     And  so  with 
this  work.     Narratives   of  each   member   of  the  regiment  would  be 
interesting,    but    they    would    require    many    volumes.      And    a    full 
history  of  all  the  regiments  of  the  Iron  Brigade  would  also  require  a 
volume  for  each.     Such  task  must  be  deferred  to  others.     There  has 
been  a  determination  to  exclude,  as  far  as  the  truth  of  history  would 
allow,  all  reflexive  matter,  as  well  as  everything  that  could  not  strictly 
stand  the  test  of  good  authority  and  sincere  account. 

The  foregoing  recital  should  accord  to  every  regiment  of  the  Iron 
Brigade  that  full  measure  of  praise  which  each  has  won  for  itself. 
While  members  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  pride  themselves 
upon  its  glorious  record,  written  in  blood — its  wealth  of  sacrifice 
which  has  contributed  to  the  enrichment  of  Michigan  history,  they 
ever  accord  a  full  meed  of  praise  to  all  other  Michigan  troops,  mindful 
that  every  soldier,  with  pardonable  pride,  loves  his  own  regiment  the 
best.  And  so,  while  it  is  our  special  delight  that  we  belonged  to  the 
"Twenty-fourth"  and  to  the  IRON  BRIGADE,  we  are  also  proud  that 
we  belonged  to  a  Michigan  regiment.  For,  were  not  Michigan's 
troops  the  honor  of  every  branch  of  the  service  where  they  served  ? 
Did  not  their  blood  moisten  over  800  battle-fields  of  the  war  ?  Did 
not  their  praises  fall  from  the  lips  of  generals?  Did  not  the  command 
of  General  Phil  Kearney — "  Put  a  Michigan  Regiment  on  guard 

(474) 


OUR   LAST   MARCH.  475 

to-night  and  then  I  can  sleep,"  express  the  confidence  of  commanders 
in  Michigan's  soldiery?  Were  they  not  selected  to  lead  "forlorn 
hopes"  and  perform  most  dangerous  and  difficult  tasks? 

Thirty  years  have  intervened  since  began  the  great  struggle  for 
national  life.  Since  then  a  new  generation  has  been  born — a 
generation  has  passed  away,  while  the  magnitude  of  the  struggle  and 
the  momentous  questions  at  issue — those  lost  and  those  preserved — 
are  fast  passing  beyond  comprehension.  The  war  cost  the  North 
alone  360,000  lives,  300,000  wounded,  and  over  one  million  widows 
and  orphans.  No  less  could  have  been  the  casualties  of  the  south. 
The  North  alone,  and  the  South  alone,  lost  each,  more  men  in  four 
years,  than  England  lost  in  all  her  wars  from  its  Invasion  by  William 
the  Conqueror  to  Queen  Victoria,  a  period  of  800  years ! 

The  sword  settled  that  the  United  States  are  indivisible.  State 
rights  remain,  but  not  State  sovereignty.  Sovereignty  belongs 
exclusively  to  the  Nation.  The  war  taught  the  nations  of  earth  and 
traitors  at  home  that  this  nation  cannot  be  destroyed  without  costly 
and  bloody  protest.  It  taught  that  majorities  must  govern,  and  so 
govern  as  to  preserve  inviolate  the  equal  rights  of  all ;  that  a  lawfully 
elected  President  shall  serve  his  constitutional  term  ;  that  a  minority 
oligarchy  cannot  permanently  control  this  Republic.  May  the 
sacrifices  of  this  war  never  be  forgotten.  May  future  generations 
note  its  awful  scope  and  keep  clear  of  the  rocks  on  which  it  so  nearly 
stranded.  May  the  treasonable  sophistries  of  Calhounism  be 
extirpated  from  the  text  books  and  literature  of  the  South,  whose 
rising  generation  is  being  taught  its  deadly  heresy,  else  other 
occasions  may  be  sought  to  revive  the  "  Lost  Cause."  Let  a  caution 
prevail  in  the  discussion  of  internal  questions  of  polity,  rior  admit  too 
freely  within  our  gates  the  objectionable  and  ignorant  stranger;  and 
when  enlarging  our  domain,  that  we  annex  not  enemies  of  our 
institutions,  customs  and  form  of  government.  May  the  blood- 
bought  experience  of  this  generation  preserve  for  all  time  this  noblest 
of  human  organizations,  "  of  the  people,  by  the  people  and  for 
the  people." 


476  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 


IN  MEMORIAM. 


The  following  comrades  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  are  known 
to  have  passed  over  to  the  silent  majority  since  their  resignation  or 
discharge : 

Lieutenant-Colonel  MARK  FLANIGAN,  at  Detroit,  Oct.  4,  1886. 

Major  HENRY  W.  NALL,  at  Long  Branch,  N.  J.,  July  10,  1863. 

Major  WILLIAM  HUTCHINSON,  drowned  on  Stm.  Morning  Star,  sunk  on  Lake 
Erie,  June  19,  1868. 

Lieutenant  and  Quartermaster  DIGBY  V.  BELL,  at  Detroit,  Feb.  8,  1890. 

Surgeon  JOHN  H.  BEECH,  It  Coldvvater,  Oct.  17,  1878. 

Assistant  Surgeon  CHARLES  C.  SMITH,  in  Redford,  April  18,  1890. 

Assistant  Surgeon  ALEXANDER  COLLAR,  at  Wayne,  Sept  4,  1883. 

Assistant  Surgeon  EDWARD  LAUDERDALE,  at  Detroit,  April  16,  1883. 

Captain  RICHARD  S.  DILLON,  at  Detroit,  March  3,  1886. 

Captain  ISAAC  W.  INGERSOLL,  at  Detroit,  April  9,  1881. 

Captain  EDWIN  E.  NORTON,  at  Detroit,  March  9,  1873. 

Captain  WILLIAM  A.  OWEN,  at  Detroit,  July,  26,  1887. 

Captain  GEORGE  A.  Ross,  at  Detroit  July  28,  1885. 

Captain  GEORGE  C.  GORDON,  in  Redford,  Aug.  27,  1878. 

Captain  JOHN  WITHERSPOON,  killed  in  cyclone  at  St.  Edwards,  Nebraska,  Aug. 
4,  1887. 

Captain  EDWARD  B.  WILKIE,  Nov.  8,  1875. 

Captain  ANDREW  J.  CONNOR,  at  Dayton  Home,  in  1890. 

Lieutenant  FREDERICK  AUGUSTUS  BUHL,  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  Sept.  15,  1864,  of 
wounds  received  in  cavalry  fight. 

Lieutenant  AUGUSTUS  F.  ZIEGLER,  at  Detroit,  Jan.  2,  1870. 

Lieutenant  HUGH  F.  VANDERLIP,  at  Pontiac,  Feb.  19,  1884. 

Lieutenant  CHARLES  A  KING,  in  Missouri,  soon  after  the  war. 

Lieutenant  JOHN  J.  LENNON,  of  consumption,  in  March,  1865. 

Lieutenant  GEORGE  W.  CHILSON,  at  Las  Vegas,  New  Mex.,  Jan.  18,  1881. 

Lieutenant  IRA  W.  FLETCHER,  at  Wayne,  May  9,  1883. 

Lieutenant  MICHAEL  DEMPSEY,  at  Detroit,  in  March,  1890. 

SULLIVAN  I).  GREEN  (N.  C.  S.),  at  Berlin  Falls,  N.  H.,  Dec.  29,  1889. 

DANIEL  B.  NICHOLS  (N.  C.  S.),  soon  after  the  war. 

Company  A  —  Peter  N.  Girardin,  John  Happe,  James  Murphy,  Nelson  Oakland; 
John  Schubert,  1890;  Francis  Wright,  1889;  and  John  S.  Coy,  1891. 

Company  B  —  Andrew  J.  Arnold,  1891  ;  James  S.  Booth,  Willett  Brown;  George 
F.  Higbee,  1878  ;  Richard  Maloney,  1869 ;  Joseph  E.  McConnell,  1886  ;  Patrick 
Shannon,  1872;  Lafayette  Veo,  1890;  James  Grills  (Recruit). 

Company  C — James  M.  Loud,  Daniel  McPherson,  James  S.  Seeley. 

Company  D  —  John  D.  Cameron  (R.);  Henry  D.  Chilson,  of  wounds  received  in 
another  regiment,  1865  ;  Clark  Chase,  Oliver  Herrick,  Frank  Heig,  killed  on  railroad; 
Conrad  Kocher,  James  Lindsay  ;  Robert  Polk,  1890;  William  M.  Ray,  1879  !  Melvin 
H.  Storms,  Wm.  Walter  Sands;  George  P.  Roth,  1880  ;  John  B.  Turney  ;  Allen  Brown 
(R.),  1889;  George  Dolan  (R.),  1890. 


OUR   LAST   MARCH.  477 

Company  E — John  Frank  ;  Thomas  Gibbons,  1890 ;  John  Hogan,  James  D. 
Jackson,  Frank  Kendrick,  Patrick  W.  Nolan,  William  Powers,  Frank  Schneider, 
Thomas  Stackpole. 

Company  F — Abraham  Akey;  August  F.  Albrecht,  1890;  Edward  Burkham; 
William  Bullock,  1875  ;  William  W.  Graves,  William  H.  Ingersoll,  Charles  E.  Jenner, 
George  Krumback,  William  Kalsow;  John  G.  Klinck,  1886  ;  Frank  H.  Pixley,  Eugene 
Sims  by  gunshot  accident  soon  after  the  war;  Albert  L.  Schmidt,  John  J.  Sullivan; 
Andrew  Wagner,  1867  ;  Myron  Murdock,  1879  ;  Herman  Krumback. 

Company  G — William  A.  Armstrong,  John  Broombar;  John  Butler,  1872;  Peter 
Euler;  William  R.  Graves,  1888;  Garrett  Garrison;  George  Hinmonger,  1889  ;  Peter  T. 
Lezotte,  Jeremiah  Sullivan,  Charles  Martin  ;  Charles  Stoflet,  1890;  Joseph  J.  Watts, 
1886  ;  William  G.  Weiner,  1870  ;  Douglas  M.  Page,  Benjamin  W.  Pierson. 

Company  H — Barney  J.  Campbell,  1881  ;  Michael  Cunningham,  1864  ;  Michael 
Donavan  ;  August  Gilsbach,  1889  ;  Theodore  Grover,  1890  ;  Van  Renselaer  W.  Lemm, 
A.  Wilder  Robinson,  killed  by  falling  out  of  a  high  story  window  while  asleep  ; 
Andrew  J.  Stevens,  1872  ;  Jacob  Whyse  ;  Abram  Hoffman. 

Company  I — Peter  Brink,  Richard  M.  Fish,  Francis  Hynds,  Alpheus  Johnson, 
Cornelius  Veley,  Roswell  Van  Kuren,  Levi  McDaniels  (R.)  ;  William  H.  Morton. 

Company  K — Robert  A.  Bain,  Andrew  Bruthaumpt,  George  W.  Fox,  Abner  A. 
Galpin,  Artemas  Hosmer,  1872  ;  Frank  Kellogg,  David  J.  Kellar,  James  Leslie;  Elijah 
Little,  1889;  Barney  J.  Litogot,  Jerome  B.  Stockham,  Frederick  Smoots,  Enoch  A. 
Whipple. 


DEATH  OF  GENERAL  HENRY  A.  MORROW 

It  is  with  deep  sorrow  that  we  must  record  the  death  of  our  beloved 
Colonel  which  occured  at  Hot  Springs,  Arkansas,  January  31,  1891. 
We  had  hoped  he  would  survive  to  read  this  volume  in  which  he  had 
a  great  interest.  Upon  learning  of  his  death  the  Survivors  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  in  Detroit,  the  Bar  Association  of  this  City 
and  his  regiment,  the  Twenty-first  U.  S.  Infantry,  passed  suitable 
resolutions  of  respect.  Of  his  war  services  this  volume  makes  record, 
and  it  is  one  of  the  most  brilliant. 

After  the  war,  he  was  appointed  Collector  for  the  Port  of  Detroit, 
which  he  resigned  to  become  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Thirty-sixth 
Regiment,  U.  S.  Infantry,  February,  1867.  After  entering  the 
Regular  Army  he  was  assigned  to  important  positions  which  he  filled 
most  satisfactorily.  President  Grant  ordered  him  to  Louisana  where 
he  assisted  in  the  process  of  re-construction  acceptably  to  the  people. 
Later,  he  was  sent  to  Utah  to  quell  the  Mormon  disturbances  in 
1872-3,  where  his  conciliatory  methods  were  successful.  In  1877, 
during  the  railroad  riots  at  Scranton,  Pennsylvania,  his  discreet  conduct 


4/8  HISTORY   OF   THE   TWENTY-FOURTH    MICHIGAN. 

won  the  special  commendation  of  General  Hancock.     He  subsequently 
became  Colonel  of  the  Twenty-first  U.  S.  Infantry. 

He  was  a  soldier,  orator  and  jurist  of  the  highest  excellence  in 
each.  His  address  was  affable  and  courteous.  Meanness  and  injustice 
he  despised.  His  own  Twenty-fourth  loved  him,  believed  in  him  and 
would  always  follow  where  he  led.  No  braver  man  ever  drew  a 
sword  and  he  was  ever  regardful  of  the  welfare  of  his  command,  every 
soldier  in  which  could  lay  before  him  any  grievance.  His  name  in 
history  is  secure  and  deserves  to  be  preserved  in  the  choicest  amber. 
He  ever  had  a  warm  remembrance  for  the  old  Twenty-fourth  and 
among  his  last  letters  was  the  following  to  Captain  Geo.  W.  Burchell 
written  at  Fort  Sidney,  Nebraska,  July  30,  1890: 

"What  I  desire  above  all  things  in  this  world  is  to  hear  of  the  health  and 
prosperity  of  the  remnant  of  the  dear  old  comrades  who  stood  with  me,  elbow  to 
elbow,  in  the  battle's  storm  of  those  horrible  but  splendid  years  when  the  Nation's 
life  was  saved  by  the  Nation's  valor.  Your  letter  recalls  many  a  scene.  How  quick 
come  back  the  camp-fires,  the  weary  marches,  the  dreadful  preparation  for  battle, 
the  long  lines,  the  glittering  bayonets,  the  inspiring  cheers,  the  awful  roar  of 
musketry,  the  deep  thunder  of  the  cannon,  the  sickening  carnage,  the  cries  of  the 
wounded,  the  ambulances,  the  mounds  of  fresh  earth!  Alas!  Alas!  God  has  been 
good  to  spare  us  so  long  to  witness  the  glorious  fruits  of  the  sacrifices  of  the  patriots 
of  1861-5.  Perhaps  we  are  not  happier  in  our  lots  than  the  gallant  men  who  fell 
fighting  in  the  cause  of  freedom  and  humanity.  May  God  be  kind  to  those  who 
are  still  spared,  strengthen  their  failing  limbs,  and  temper  the  winds  to  their 
declining  vigor." 

On  September  8,  1890,  Colonel  Morrow  wrote  as  follows  to 
Colonel  A.  M.  Edwards: 

"I  have  just  returned  from  the  G.  A.  R.  encampment,  where  I  had  a  pleasant 
time,  but  you  know  I  am  all  shattered  in  health.  At  present  I  cannot  speak  above  a 
whisper.  I  do  not  pretend  to  give  commands  on  the  field.  But  I  did  not  intend  to 
tell  you  that  your  Colonel  has  been  for  a  year  and  more,  stricken  by  a  fatal  disease 
and  will,  in  all  human  probability,  be  on  the  side  of  the  majority  to  welcome  you 
when  your  form  shall  appear  on  the  opposite  shore." 

His  remains  were  conveyed  to  Niles,  Michigan,  the  girlhood 
home  of  Mrs.  Morrow,  where  they  laid  in  state  in  charge  of  "Frank 
Graves  Post,"  G.  A.  R.  until  the  funeral.  The  services  were  held  in 
the  Episcopal  Church  and  the  burial  was  under  the  auspices  of  said 
Post.  As  soon  as  the  time  of  the  funeral  was  learned  in  Detroit, 
several  members  of  the  old  Twenty-fourth  hurriedly  arranged  to 
attend  and  were  present  as  mourners.  The  remains  of  our  dear 
Colonel  were  laid  away  beneath  the  oaks  of  Silver  Brook  Cemetery 
with  the  honors  of  war.  He  has  reached  his  last  camp  ground. 


INDEX. 


Numbers  Indicate  Pages.      See   Illustration   List  for  Portraits. 


A. 

Abolitionism, 
Alexandria, 

Anderson,  Maj.  Robert, 
Army  Balloon, 
Army  Cabins, 
Archer's  Brigade, 
Arsenal,  Dearborn, 
Ages  of  Members, 
Allotments  of  Pay, 

B. 

Bagley,  John  J., 

Badges, 

Ballou,  Thomas  B., 

Battlefield  Duel, 

Barns.  James  J., 

Battery  B.,         .          58,  68,  91,  95,  469-473 

Battles  :  Antietam,  58,  69;  Bull's  Run, 
20;  Second  Bull's  Run,  58;  Bethesda 
Church,  256;  Cold  Harbor,  256; 
Chantilly,  58;  Chancellorsville,  131; 
Dabney's  Mill,  289;  Fredericksburg, 
86;  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  125;  Five 
Forks,  301;  Gainesville,  57;  Gettys 
burg,  155,  etc.;  Hatcher's  Run,  277; 
Laurel  Hill,  238,  239;  Mine  Run, 
210;  North  Anna,  250,  251;  Peters 
burg,  260;  Salient  or  Bloody  Angle, 
241,  242,  etc.;  Tolopotomoy,  255; 
Weldon  Railroad,  271,  272;  White 
Oak  Road,  298;  Wilderness,  229, 


Blair,  Mrs.  Gov., 

29 

12 

Brooks,   Preston  S., 

15 

52 

Brooks,   Adjt.  E.  P., 

209 

19 

Bragg,  Gen.  E.  S., 

258,  263,  465 

68 

Brown,  John,    . 

15,    16 

1  06 

Breaking  Camp, 

204 

•       157 

Brooks'  Expedition, 

267 

20 

Buhl,  F.  &  Co  

40,   364 

44 

Buhl,   Frederick  A.,            43, 

159,   2IO,    364 

38 

Buchanan,  James, 

13,  18,    19 

Bucklin,  Andrew  J., 

368 

Burchell,  Geo.  W.,     43,  261, 

285,  287,   362 

Burnside,  Gen.  A.  E..    74,  77 

,  86,  no,    112 

54 

Burns,  John, 

182,   416 

117 

Battalions  for  Field  Duty, 

92,   258 

.       165 

167 

C. 

39-  42,  359 

Camps:  Barns,  37;  Blair,  81,  Bucklin, 
208;  Beech,  214;  Butler,  297;  Clark, 
62;  Comfort,  71;  Chandler,  83; 
Chilson,  270;  Crawford,  284,  287; 
Crapo,  313;  Duncan  Stewart,  73; 
Dickey,  210;  Flanigan,  77;  Har- 
baugh,  65;  Hickey,  71;  Hennessy, 
73;  Isabella,  105;  Morrow,  52; 
Misery,  71;  Merritt,  201;  Meade, 
216;  Nail,  80;  O'Donnell,  205;  Pen- 
niman,  69;  Peck,  204;  Shearer,  55; 
Speed,  200;  Towers,  74;  Wayne,  54; 


etc. ;  Appomattox, 
Beech,  Dr.  J.  H.,     . 
Bell,  Digby  V. ,    . 
Bellore,  Charles, 
Birrell,  David,     . 
Bird,  Peter  C., 
Bivouac  and  Camp-fire, 
Blair,  Gov.  Austin; 


303 

42,  270,  359 

42,  75,  84,  lor,  359 

164 

40,  43,  95,  127,  367 
119,  186 
.  198 
29,  56,  142 


Ward,  83,  Way,  137;  Wallace, 
Civil  War  and  its  Cause, 
Call  for  300,000  Men. 
Campaign  of  Maneuvres, 
Campbell,   Judge  J.  V., 
Cass,  Hon.  Lewis, 

Capitol  Park 

Chrouch,  George  W.,    . 
Chilson,  Seril, 
Chilson,  George  W., 
Chuck-or-Luck, 


207 
9 
24 
205 

41,    225 
26,  31 
60 
46 

93,  258,  264,  359 
270,  365 
-  138 


(479) 


48o 

Chope,  Charles  H.,      .         .         .251,368       Drill  on  Battlefield, 

94 

Chope,  Edward  B.,                                     3^9 

Drumsticks,                 .         .          •       317- 

3i8 

Chamberlin,  L.  A.,     .          .     270,  292,  359 

Deserters,      .... 

392 

Church,  Samuel  W.,     .         .                    366 

Discharged,        .                           •   382  to 

387 

Churchill,  Owen,       .         .                         37° 

Cleary,  Patrick  46,  188 

E. 

Compliments   to    the     Twenty-fourth: 

Earnshaw,  Abraham, 

365 

118,    124,    126,    134,    136,    144.    l68- 

Eaton,  Alonzo,        .          .            257,  270, 

366 

169,    186,    187,    287,    289,    293,    412, 

Edwards,  Albert  M.,  39,  141,  149,  i52- 

452,   466,  469 

163,    165,    181,    185,    191,    231,    239, 

Comparative  Losses,         .                172,  464 

244,    255,    258,    263,   270,    273,    284, 

Confederate  Prisons,     .                    428,  etc. 

285,  291,  312,  314,  315, 

358 

Color  Guard,    .         .         164,  165,  227,   284 

Election, 

280 

Congdon,  Arthur  S.,          .          .       37°.   4°9 

Emancipation  Proclamation, 

105 

Connor,  Andrew  J.,       .                               363 

Ernest,  August,      . 

165 

Congdon,  David,        .         .          .                36° 

Errata, 

7 

Commanders  of  24th  Michigan,                315 

Ewell,   General, 

187 

Commanders  of  Iron  Brigade,  .                465 

Explanation  of  Map, 

173 

Cotton  Gin,             ....              10 

Execution  of  Deserter, 

144 

Collar,  Dr.  Alex.,      .               35,  42,  84,   359 

Crosby,  Calvin  B.,         .          42,  83,  84,   360 

F. 

Cullen,  James,            .          .   34,  42,  i°3,   360 
Curtiss,  Roswell  B.,       ...              81 

Farland,  John  M.,         .       4°,  42,  270, 
Fairchild,  Gen.  Lucius,     . 

361 
208 

Curtis,  O.  B.,         .        81,  99,  264,  386,   408 
Cutler,  Gen.  Lysander,          .     97,  238,   465 

Fitzhugh  Estate,   . 
Fischer,  E.  Ben., 

137 
369 

Century,             .....       445 
Cowards,  Drumming  out,      .            114,    119 

Flag  Presentation,  40,   201,   202,  203, 
225,  226, 

296 

D. 

Flanigan,  Mark,     26,   32,    40,    41,    75, 

107,    113,    118,    122,    123,    157,    315- 

357 

Davis,  Jefferson,         .         19,  306,  444,   450 

Fletcher,  Ira  W., 

369 

Democratic  Party,            .          .          .            13 

Fort  Lyon, 

52 

Departure  from  Home,        .           46,  47,  48 

Fort  Baker, 

56 

Dead  of  24th  Michigan  :     Killed,   371  ; 

Fords  in  Rapidan,  etc.,      . 

124 

died  of  wounds,  374  ;  in  prison,  376  ; 

Fremont    John  C.,          .          •          .       i^ 

1    S^ 

coming  home,  377  ;    of  disease,  378  ; 

Frederick  City,   Md., 

62 

Spr.  R.,  380. 

Franklin,  General, 

97 

Dedication  of  Monuments,     .          .            408 

Funeral  in  Camp, 

1  08 

Dempsey,  Michael,    ....       365 

Fugitive  Slave  Law, 

ii 

Devotion  to  the  Flag,     .          .          .            163 

"3 

Deserted  Home,          .          .          .           76,  77 

Flowers  at  Gettysburg, 

415 

Destroying  Railroad,      .          .          .            283 

Dillon,  Richard  S.,    .          .            40,  42,   361 

G. 

Dickey,  Gilbert  A.,        .             160,  181,   367 

Dingwall,  George,      ....       368 

Gibbon,    Gen.    John,     58,  63,  65,   66, 

Discipline,     .                                          113,  217 

68,  69,  75, 

47i 

Dodsley,   Wm.    R,    56,    128,    181,   251, 

Gibbons,  Robert, 

279 

275,  362,   411 

Gordon,  George  C.,         .                    42, 

360 

Doubleday,   General,          93,  100,  101,  102 

Gordon,  John  M.,         .                43,  i°3- 

367 

Drill,      66 

Grant,   Gen.    U.  S.,  21,  221,  241,  256, 

Ftrpcc  Pnrarlp                                                                     66 

266 

i   3IQ 

INDEX. 


481 


Grace,  Newell,            .         43,  128,  181,   364 

Green,  S.  D.,         .     93,  144,  184,  313,   370 

Guarding  Wagon  Train,  .         .         75 

Guarding  Railroad,   .         .  .         83,  209 

Grand  Review,     .         .         .  .         .   310 

H. 

Haigh,  George  W. ,          .         .         270,   362 
Harbaugh,  David  E. ,  .         .          2,  40 

Harper's  Ferry  Raid,       ...  16 

Halleck,   General,       .         .         .         57,  58 
Hattie,   Louis,         ....  94 

Harrison,  Edward  B.,         .         .      181,   373 
"  Hell's  Half  Acre,"        .         .  258 

Hendricks,  B.   W 363 

Hill,  Gen.  A.  P roo,   187 

Hoyt,  Charles  A.,        .          .        42,  103,   361 
Hooker,  General,   52,  66,   86,  96,  131, 

133.  134.  152 

Home  Souvenirs,          ....  107 

Howard  Jr.,  J.  M.,  .         .    43,  83,  366 

Howard,  Shepherd  L.,        .         .     281,  366 

Hospital  Experience,       .          .          .  318 

Houston,  A.  J.,  .          .          .          .  437 

Humphrey ville,  R.  H.,  .         .  367 

Hussey,  Augustus,     ....  369 

Hutchinson,  Wm.,      42,  263,  270,  315,  358 

Hutchinson,  Wm.  B.,    .          .          .  365 

Hutton,  George,         .         .         .       181,  361 

I. 

Ingersoll,  I.  W.,          .           40,  42,  103,  360 

Incidents,  181,  247,  251,  257,  273,  282,  292 

Inspection  of  Regiment,                     .  221 

Intrenchments,  value  of,              .         .  194 

Irish  Brigade.         ...           96,  134 
Iron  Brigade,  59,  65,  88,  89,  91,  93,  94, 
97,  102,  117,  126,  127,  134,  135,  149, 
157,    160,    162,    167,    201,   275,   452, 

459  -462 


King,  Gen.  Rufus, 
Kinney,  H.  P.,      . 
King,  Charles  A., 


57-  58 
no,  364 
.  368, 


J- 


Jennison,  Wm., 
Journeys, 
Joy,  James  F., 


Kelley,  William, 
Kimmell,  E.  A. 


K. 


.       40 

49,  60,   294 

32 


165 
366 


L. 


Ladd,  Henry  H.,         .         .         .    391,  432 

Lafayette,  General,          .         .         .  10 

Lauderdale,  Dr.  E.,            .         .         .  359 
Lee,  General,   22,  57,  59,  81,   86,    133, 

196,  302,  303 

Left  Flank  Movement,    .          .          .  238 

Lennon,  John  J.,          .          .       42,  103,  364 

Lincoln,  Abraham,           17,  19,  58,  62,  304 
Losses  of  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,    in 
battles,  99,  100,    128,    131,  134,    175- 
180,    236,    237,    246,  247,   252,    257, 

263,  264,  274,  293 

Louisiana  Purchase,         .         .         .  1 1 

Loyal  Village,       ....  196 

Log  Huts,         .....  214 


M. 

Mail  in  Camp,  ....  216 
Marches,  51,  52,  54,  55,  62,  69,  71,  74, 

75,  134,  147,  149,  193,  196,  202,  204. 

207,  209,  212,  218,  230,  238,  242,  245, 

248,  253,  258,  259,  276,  278,  282,   290 
Maryland  Invasion.  ...         58 

Marye's  Height,  .          .       86,  96,    133 

Merritt,  John  C 42,   361 

Meade,  General,  .          .          .84,    153 

McNoah,  Wm.  M.,  .  .  .  369 
McConnell,  Charles  H.,  .  .  .  370 
McDowell,  General,  .  .  .56,  57 
McClellan,  General,  20,  22,  23,  56,  57, 

58,  59-  65,  74,  75,  77,  78,  452 
McPherson's  Woods,  .  .  .157 
Meredith,  General,  83,  97,  roo,  101, 

115,  159,  186,   458 

Medicine  Rations,  .          .          .  289 

Memoriam,  In,  ....      476 

Military  Road,  .          .          .       274,   281 

Michigan  at  Gettysburg,         .  403,  etc. 

Monuments,  .         .         404  to  408,  etc. 

Mine  Run  Campaign,  .  .  .210 
Miscellaneous  Features  of  24th,  .  46 

Missouri  Compromise,        .          .  n,  13 


482 


INDEX. 


Morrow,  Henry  A.,  25,  30,  35,  37, 

40,                Profanity, 

80,  81 

41,  52,  60,  69,  72,  75,  77,  84,  88 

89,                Promotions,           .      107, 

204,  217,  270,  281 

113,    134.    r35-    M0-    J59>    l6°- 
163,    165,    187,    189,    191,    194- 

T62,               Progress  of  the  War,  19, 
200,                       5°.  57-  58-  103,  204, 

2O,   21,  22,  23, 
266,    284,    298,    305 

207,    216,   219,    227,   231,    280, 

285,                Pursuit  of  Lee, 

•          193. 

287,  307,   357, 

474,  477 

Mount  Vernon,      . 

54                                             R< 

Mud  March, 

110       Raccoonville  Raid, 

.         .           218 

Morton,  Gov., 

"7       Raiding, 

73 

Material  of  Regiment, 

41       Raising  the  Regiment, 

24  to  51 

Medals  of  Honor, 

289       Rain  Storm  March, 

7i 

Mutinous  troops, 

200       Raymond    Francis  Jr., 

370 

Raymond,  James  F., 

109-  370- 

N. 

Raid  to  Meherrin  River, 

281 

Nagle,  Wm.  J., 

165       Republican  Party, 

13 

Nail,  Henry  W.,             .          .     4L 

103,  358       Relief  Fund, 

38 

Nation  unprepared,   . 

20       Rexford,  Wm.  H., 

40,  42,  157,   360- 

National  Road, 

58,  62       Residences  of  Members, 

45 

National  Cemetery,    . 

404       Regiment  of  Relatives, 

.      -4* 

Nineteenth  Indiana, 

160,  458       Renton,  John, 

46 

Nativities  of  Regiment, 

43,  44       Reynolds,  General,     66 

,    121,    124,    125,   422 

Norton,  Edwin  E., 

361       Resolutions, 

115,  116 

Nowlin,  James, 

46,  84       Review  of  Army, 

118 

Resignations,     . 

210 

0. 

Recruits, 

346  to  356 

Richmond  Evacuated, 

3O2 

Occupation  of  men, 
O'Donnell,  Malachi  J.,          39,  43 

45 
„        ,         Riot  on  Campus,   . 

Robinson,  Col.  W.  W., 

25 

.      159,   238 

Original  members,          .          .         ; 

52lt°3f       Root,  Roswell  L., 

276 

Order  of  Companies, 

Roster  of  Officers,     . 

-       256,  357 

"  Old  Bob  Tail,"                       121, 

239,   472 
Ross,  George  A.,   . 

363 

Owen,  Wm.  A.,         .         .           4( 

3,  42,   360 

S. 

P. 

Safford,  W.   S., 

43-   364 

Parsons,  George  B., 

55       Sedgwick,  General, 

133 

Paul   General 

62,  135       Secession  Doctrine, 

iy 

Peck,  Abel  G.,       .        40,  46,  157 

,  164,    181       Seventeenth  Michigan, 

55-  59-  63 

Petersburg  Mine, 

2°9       Seventh  Michigan, 

86 

Peeble's  Farm, 

276       Shearer,  James  F., 

-     368 

Peninsular  Campaign, 

22       Sham  Battles, 

56- 

Pickett's  Charge, 

17°       Short  Rations,     . 

-       77 

Pinkney,  George  H.,     . 

305       Shoddy  Contractors, 

107,    109. 

Platforms,          .... 

16,  17       Shattuck,  Lucus  L., 

367 

Pope,  Gen.  John, 

56,  57-  58       Slave-holders'  Rebellioi 

3,            •             •            9-23 

Porter,  Fitz  John, 

58,  473       Slavery, 

9,    10,    II,   12,    13,    18 

Port  Royal  Expedition, 

121       Spaulding,  L.  A.,   . 

l6S 

Poetry,      .          .         49,  175.  226 

-  371,   38i       Speed,  Wm.  J.,    .     35. 

40,  42,  83,  160,   360- 

Pomeroy,  Augustus, 

368       Stowe    Mrs   H.  B., 

12 

Presidential  Elections, 

.  13,  16       "  Stonewall  Jackson,"  < 

General,  22,  57, 

Presentations, 

.  38  to  41 

I31-    J33 

INDEX. 


483 


Stewart,  Duncan, 
Southern  Confederacy, 
Shelter  Tents, 
Soldier's  Knapsack,    . 
Soldier's  Menu, 
Soldier's  Letter, 
Second  Wisconsin, 
Sixth  Wisconsin, 
Seventh  Wisconsin, 
Stewart,  James, 
Survivors,  Records  of, 
Sumner,  Charles, 
Sumter,  Fort, 
Smith,  Dr.  C.   C.,    . 
Sprague,  A.  W.,    . 
Stevens,  Alex.  H., 
South  Mountain, 
Stafford  Heights,     . 
Start  for  Gettsyburg, 
Suggett,  Thomas,     . 
Sunday  in  Camp, 

T. 

The  War  Meeting,    . 
Tree  Cut  Down,   . 
Towar,  Dr.  Geo.  W., 
Trials  of  the  March,     . 

U. 

Uncle  Tom's  Cabin, 
Underground  Railroad, 
Uprising  of  People, 
Unaccounted  for, 

V. 

Vanderlip,  Hugh  F., 
V.  R.  C.,     .         .      '   . 

Veteranizing,    . 
Visitors, 


26,   32 

18,  19 
67 

•       74 
80 

.       119 
453 

•      457 
457 

.      47i 
382-392 

13 

.     19 

42,   359 

42,   364 

19 

58,  63 

86 

142 

165,   182 
.   220 


33 
244 
359 

76 


12 

12 
20 


3&9 
382-384 

205 
142,  3°o 


Virginia  Winter,       .          .         .         . 
Vinton,  Warren  G.,    35,    39,  42,   103, 


,  4«5 


W. 


War  Meetings,     .          .          .     24,  29,  33-37 
Ward,  Eber  B  ......    26,  37 

Walker,  C.  I.,     .          .          .          .         33>  37 

Way,   Rev.   Wm.   C.,   42,  72,   88,  102- 
103,  no,  118,  155,  181,  183,  185,  214, 

264,  270,  289,  360 

Wallace,  Walter  H.,  .  37,  42,  162,  364 
Washington's  Slaves,  .  .  .10,  55 
Wadsworth,  General,  126,  136,  168,  235 
Warren,  General  G.  K.,  133,  169,  213, 

301,  302 
165,  182 
.   367 
181 

165,  181,  258,  364,  411 
276 

367 
140 


Wagner,  Andrew, 

Wallace,  Elmer  D., 

Welsh,  John  W., 

Welton,  E.   B., 

Welch,  Norvell  E.,    . 

Welton,  F.  E.,     . 

Westmoreland  Expedition, 

Whiting,  H.  Rees,         .          .        43,  75,  363 

Wight,  E.  B.,  35,39,  42,  102,  103,118, 

160,  162,  210,  359,  420 
Wight,  W.   W.,    35,  42,  220,  239,  248, 

251,  258,  270,  315,  357 


Wight,  Sergt.  W.  W., 
Wight,  Stanley  G., 
Witherspoon,  John, 
Wilderness,  . 
Wilford,  Albert, 
Wilkie,  E.  B., 
Whig  Party, 
Winter  Quarters,  . 
Whiskey  Rations, 
Wheeler,  Wm.  T., 
Wheelhouse,  Demain, 
Woodbury,  General, 


95,  127 

IO2 

128,  181,  362 
230 

270,  366 

363 

13 

106,  214,  287 

.   259 

367 

56 


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